Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Forums
Cattle Boards
NCBA, R-CALF, COOL, USDA (No Politics!)
USDA
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support CattleToday:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="WORANCH" data-source="post: 40130" data-attributes="member: 21"><p>The USDA is not helping our trade with Japan. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Mad Cow,</p><p></p><p>Madder Cattleman</p><p>Rancher Willing to Pay for Mad Cow Tests, But USDA Says No</p><p></p><p>By David Kerley</p><p></p><p></p><p>C A M P B E L L S B U R G, Ky., May 2 — Cattleman John Stewart has become an unlikely crusader against the government.</p><p>Stewart raises Angus bulls on his Creekstone farm and processes 300,000 animals per year. Twenty-five percent of the beef was to go to Asia — until last December, and America's first reported case of mad cow disease.</p><p></p><p>"Everything closes," Stewart said. "International trade stops. It was a frightening day."</p><p></p><p>More than 50 nations, including Japan, banned American beef. Stewart says his business is losing $80,000 a day.</p><p></p><p>The Japanese, who test every animal for mad cow disease, will not allow American beef imports again until the U.S. cattle industry does the same. </p><p></p><p>Offer Rebuffed</p><p></p><p>In order to resume selling beef in Asia, Stewart made an offer: He would test every animal that came through his facility for mad cow disease, and he would pay the cost of having the government oversee the tests. </p><p></p><p>But the U.S. Department of Agriculture refused.</p><p></p><p>"They've told us if we attempt to buy those test kits and use them, they are going to put me in jail," Stewart said.</p><p></p><p>The government has never allowed private testing. And even though test kits are available, they are not licensed.</p><p></p><p>The USDA also argues that since most animals are slaughtered at an age before mad cow disease becomes a concern, Stewart's offer to test all animals is simply unnecessary.</p><p></p><p>"There is no scientific basis for doing this kind of testing," said Ron deHaven of the USDA. "But in fact, by opening the door to that kind of testing, we would be assuming on behalf of the consumers a tremendous cost."</p><p></p><p>The USDA estimates testing all cattle could cost $1 billion. The rest of the cattle industry, which could be forced by competition to test as well, is siding with the government.</p><p></p><p>"We're not going to support doing anything that would mislead consumers that beef is safer because of testing," said Gary Weber of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WORANCH, post: 40130, member: 21"] The USDA is not helping our trade with Japan. Mad Cow, Madder Cattleman Rancher Willing to Pay for Mad Cow Tests, But USDA Says No By David Kerley C A M P B E L L S B U R G, Ky., May 2 — Cattleman John Stewart has become an unlikely crusader against the government. Stewart raises Angus bulls on his Creekstone farm and processes 300,000 animals per year. Twenty-five percent of the beef was to go to Asia — until last December, and America's first reported case of mad cow disease. "Everything closes," Stewart said. "International trade stops. It was a frightening day." More than 50 nations, including Japan, banned American beef. Stewart says his business is losing $80,000 a day. The Japanese, who test every animal for mad cow disease, will not allow American beef imports again until the U.S. cattle industry does the same. Offer Rebuffed In order to resume selling beef in Asia, Stewart made an offer: He would test every animal that came through his facility for mad cow disease, and he would pay the cost of having the government oversee the tests. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture refused. "They've told us if we attempt to buy those test kits and use them, they are going to put me in jail," Stewart said. The government has never allowed private testing. And even though test kits are available, they are not licensed. The USDA also argues that since most animals are slaughtered at an age before mad cow disease becomes a concern, Stewart's offer to test all animals is simply unnecessary. "There is no scientific basis for doing this kind of testing," said Ron deHaven of the USDA. "But in fact, by opening the door to that kind of testing, we would be assuming on behalf of the consumers a tremendous cost." The USDA estimates testing all cattle could cost $1 billion. The rest of the cattle industry, which could be forced by competition to test as well, is siding with the government. "We're not going to support doing anything that would mislead consumers that beef is safer because of testing," said Gary Weber of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
NCBA, R-CALF, COOL, USDA (No Politics!)
USDA
Top