Opposition to OTM Border Rule Growing

[Oldtimer]

R-CALF: Producers Welcome Growing Opposition to USDA's Proposed OTM Rule

CattleNetwork_Today 3/29/2007 1:34:00 PM


R-CALF: Producers Welcome Growing Opposition to USDA's Proposed OTM Rule



Washington, D.C. – Cattle producers are pleased that a bipartisan group of 13 U.S. Representatives wrote a letter earlier this month to oppose the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) proposed rule (Rule 2) that would permit live Canadian cattle born after March 1, 1999, to be imported into the United States.


The group sent a formal letter to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns March 12. Authors of the letter to USDA were: Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa; Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash; Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-N.Y.; Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif.; Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.; Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y.; Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif; Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.; Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.; Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick, D-Mich.; Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont.; Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C.; Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif.



The letter stated in part that if Canadian cattle born on or after March 1, 1999, are allowed to reside in the U.S., then "any of those cattle later testing positive for BSE would have severely detrimental effects on our cattle and dairy industries within the United States…

"We must ensure that we protect the United States food supply and continue to give safety assurances to our trading partners," the letter continued. "We are concerned about the potential implications this change may have. We therefore urge the USDA to not finalize the proposed regulations allowing importation of cattle from Canada for breeding or herd replacement purposes, and that a thorough re-evaluation be conducted."


Also, Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., had requested – as had R-CALF USA and others – that the comment period on this proposed rule be extended for 60 days, but USDA granted none of those requests, keeping the March 12 deadline for public comments intact.



Additionally, Consumers Union, the non-profit membership organization that publishes the widely read Consumers Reports, submitted to USDA a petition – signed by 17,655 citizens representing every state in the union – against Rule 2, stating in part that USDA "should prohibit imports of Canadian cattle until better safeguards are in place in the US to protect the human food supply from mad cow disease. Canada appears to have a significant problem with mad cow disease. The USDA's plan to reopen the border to older cattle and to blood products and intestines is simply not cautious enough."



In early February, a bipartisan group of four U.S. Senators sent a letter to USDA in opposition to Rule 2, stating that "expanding Canadian cattle imports increases the possibility that a future case of BSE in a Canadian animal may be found in the United States." The letter was sent by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.



"R-CALF thanks these Representatives, Senators, and citizens for stepping to the plate to protect the interests of independent U.S. cattle producers and U.S. consumers, and we encourage other members of Congress to follow this lead in urging USDA to withdraw this proposed rule at once," said R-CALF USA President and Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, a veterinarian who also chairs the R-CALF USA Animal Health Committee.



Thornsberry explained that in 2006, R-CALF USA's membership had voted overwhelmingly to challenge and stop USDA from allowing the importation of beef products from cattle older than 30 months of age, as well as the importation of live cattle over 30 months of age, from Japan or any other BSE-affected country.



"It is encouraging to see that so many members of Congress and consumers share and understand the legitimate concerns of America's farmers and ranchers," he said.



Note: To view a copy of the Representatives' letter, the Senators' letter, Herseth's request for an extension, and Consumer Union's petition, please visit the "BSE-Litigation" link at http://www.r-calfusa.com.

 

[Oldtimer]

RMFU board opposes further opening border to Canadian cattle imports



High Plains / MidWest Ag Journal

4/2/07



Meeting in Denver recently, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Board of Directors expressed strong opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's pending rule to expand imports of beef and live cattle from Canada. USDA currently has limited importation of Canadian beef from cattle younger than 30 months of age, due to numerous cases of BSE-positive cattle. The pending rule would allow cattle older than 30 months to be imported into the United States.



"While we empathize with our fellow cattle producers in Canada, the most recent BSE-positive test of a young bull questions the effectiveness of Canada's ban on ruminant by- products in feed," said Charles Klaseen, RMFU board member and cattle producer from Crawford, Colo. "The importation of Canadian cattle and co-mingling with U.S. cattle and beef could be highly detrimental to U.S. beef producers. In particular, damage could occur to the U.S. export market and to the high level of consumer confidence in beef born, raised and processed in the United States."


In early January, USDA proposed to allow imports of processed beef of any age and all cattle born after March 1, 1999, the date Canada banned ruminant by-products in feed for ruminants. Canada has had four confirmed cases of BSE-positive cattle born after the date of the ban, raising the question of compliance within Canada's feed manufacturing sector.



"We have to see evidence that Canada's measures to eliminate BSE are working before we can open up our borders to imports of Canadian beef and cattle," said Ken Macy, RMFU board member and cattle and sheep producer from Pine Bluffs, Wyo. "We just cannot afford to gamble with our future, and we don't think USDA should either."



The RMFU also noted that Congress needs to provide the funds and require USDA to implement mandatory country-of-origin labeling that was adopted as part of the 2002 farm bill.



"Mandatory county-of-origin labeling on meat and other foods would enable consumers to differentiate between U.S. and imported food products," said Kent Peppler, RMFU president and farmer from Mead, Colo. "Labeling is favored by the vast majority of consumers and producers. It would allay the fears of consumers if they are given the tools they need to choose what they want to eat."


Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is a general farm organization representing 25,000 families in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico.



hpj.com

 

[skcatlman]

It just makes me wonder where were these groups during the comment period and why they didn't make submissions to the USDA at that time. Why are the politicians only making noise after the fact the comment period is over ? It seems kinda convenient that nobody would go infront the USDA and say things when they had to support the arguments with facts and scientific data. Again, we will see when the ruling comes down from the USDA panel as to what will happen next, until then this is all propaganda in preparation for a ruling that these groups see as unfavorable.