Farmers Union Against Border Rule

[Oldtimer]

National Farmers Union Calls on Congress to Rescind Canadian Border Rule

Washington--The National Farmers Union board of directors, meeting in Washington, D.C. this week, sent a letter to members of Congress on Sept 20 urging lawmakers to rescind the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) final rule to expand cattle and beef trade.


The rule was published in the Federal Register Sept. 18, giving Congress 60 days to review.


The rule would expand beef and cattle trade with Canada, by allowing the importation of additional live animals and beef products from any aged animal.


This rule comes despite the fact that Canada has nine confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and four of the nine cases were in an animal born after March 1, 1999.


The proposed rule would allow live animals born after this date into the United States.


"Until Canada can demonstrate its BSE problem is under control, NFU contends it is premature to expand beef and cattle trade," the NFU board said.


The board urged that the following measures be addressed prior to expanding Canadian beef and cattle trade.


• Canada can prove and verify their cattle herd and beef products are BSE-free.


• Canada can prove and verify 100 percent compliance with the ruminant feed ban U.S. international beef export markets are firmly reestablished.


• Mandatory country-of-origin labeling is fully implemented.


• Rapid-test technology is provided to all domestic slaughtering facilities to provide stability to the cattle market, and another layer of confidence for the American consuming public.


• A guaranteed economic safety net for American producers if the importation of cattle and beef products from BSE-positive countries negatively impacts domestic profitability.

The letter said, "National Farmers Union believes American producers and consumers deserve better."

for more information, call Liz Friedlander at 202-314-3191.

 

[Oldtimer]

SEN. SMITH FIGHTS TO PROTECT OREGON CATTLE

US Fed News

WASHINGTON


The office of Sen. Gordon H. Smith, R-Ore., issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) is calling on the USDA to suspend a rule allowing live Canadian cattle to cross the border. The rule could put Oregon cattle at the risk of being exposed to Canadian Mad Cow disease. Senator Smith is concerned about the recent outbreaks of Mad Cow disease in Canada compromising Oregon beef.

"Mad Cow disease in Canadian cattle jeopardizes the health of Oregon cattle," said Smith. "I am urging the U.S Department of Agriculture to close the border until Canada resolves their problems with Mad Cow disease. Oregon cattlemen deserve better protection. Federally mandated rules should not negatively impact the cattle industry."

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency there have been ten confirmed cases of Mad Cow disease found in Canada since May 2003, six cases since February 2006, the latest case discovered this May. Given Canada's failure to clean up their Mad Cow disease problems, Senator Smith fears opening the border will pose a significant threat to the health of Oregon cattle.

The Office of Management and Budget has begun its review of the new USDA rule. If enacted, the rule is expected to open the U.S.-Canadian border to any cattle born after March 1, 1999. Senator Smith is working to protect the interest of Oregon cattlemen by asking the USDA to amend the rule before the final rule is implemented by November or December of this year.

September 21, 2007

 

[Oldtimer]

Farm groups: Canadian border could open to mad cows



by George Lauby

The North Platte Bulletin - Published 9/24/2007

Nebraska, US



Farm and ranch groups are battling the USDA over beef shipments from Canada. Again, it’s about mad cow disease, a mysterious disease carried by livestock for which there is no known cure.



There have been nine confirmed cases of mad cow disease in Canada. The disease is also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE. Shipment of older cows that might carry the disease, will be allowed without inspection, according to the proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.



The open border policy would begin Nov. 19 unless Congress intervenes.



The National Farmer’s Union notes that in January, Canada’s ninth BSE-positive case was discovered.



“The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently concluded that Canadian cattle are 26 times more likely to test positive for BSE than U.S. cattle,” said R -CALF USA President Max Thornsberry, who is also a Missouri veterinarian.



“How in the world did USDA get the authority to decide it’s in the United States’ best interest to continue pushing for the ‘no borders’ approach to create a North American cattle herd, which continues to jeopardize the health of the U.S. cattle herd?” Thornsberry asked.



“USDA went on to say that it’s an integral part of the agency’s efforts to promote fair trade practices,” Thornsberry said. “It is not the USDA’s job to improve trade relations because there already are federal agencies for that â€" the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department. The USDA is supposed to look out for the welfare of the U.S. livestock industry.”


The USDA rule would:



· Allow importation of all live Canadian cattle born after March 1, 1999, regardless of the intended use of the cattle, e.g., breeding, feeding, or slaughter.



· Allow importation of beef, beef products, and beef byproducts, including whole or half carcasses, offal, tallow, and gelatin derived from Canadian OTM cattle.



· Allow importation of bovine blood and blood products derived from Canadian cattle of any age.



· Allow importation of casings and the part of the small intestine from Canadian cattle of any age and from sheep that were less than 12 months of age at slaughter.



“The USDA could not be operating more irresponsibly or carelessly with the health and safety of our cattle industry and our consumers as it is in this rule,” said R-CALF USA Chairman Bill Bullard.



The NFU and R-CALF are asking Congress to block the open border policy.



In a Sept. 21 letter to the members of the House and the Senate, the NFU expressed strong opposition to the rule and urged Congress to rescind it.



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