R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America
For Immediate Release Contact: Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator
December 1, 2005 Phone: 406-672-8969; e-mail: [email protected]
Cattle Producers React to Proposed Legislation
to Change USDA Grade Stamp System
(Billings, Mont.) – In an effort to highlight the need to provide additional information to U.S. consumers about the beef they serve their families, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., along with co-sponsors Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., recently introduced legislation titled the "Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005" to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act.
Johnson's legislation would bar the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) from applying quality grade stamps on various cuts of imported meat and would classify imported beef or beef produced from imported cattle that has a USDA grade stamp as "misbranded," producing a net effect of ensuring imported meat cannot take advantage of the USDA grade stamp.
Beginning in 1962, USDA required that imported meats, including carcasses, sides and cuts be marked with a country-of-origin label until they were graded for quality (prime, choice, select, standard, commercial, utility, cutter and canner). Then, in 1980, USDA changed its requirements and began grading only carcasses, including imported carcasses. However, current regulations do not require the country-of-origin information to remain on meat cuts after they are processed.
Johnson pointed out that imported cattle from Canada and Mexico are clearly marked with country-of-origin information. Canadian cattle imported for immediate slaughter and imported Canadian feeder cattle are marked with a "CAN." Mexican feeder cattle also are identified with a hide brand, typically "M" or "Mx."
"We agree wholeheartedly that when a U.S. consumer goes to the meat counter and picks up a package of beef marked 'USDA Choice' and no other marking, then those shoppers should be guaranteed they're purchasing an item that they can count on to be of USA origin, 100 percent," said R-CALF USA COOL Committee Chair Danni Beer. "USDA's current grading system misleads consumers into thinking a USDA grade stamp means that product came from an animal born, raised and slaughtered here in the U.S. As Senator Johnson's legislation clearly points out, this is false, as the meat could well be of foreign origin.
"Senator Johnson's efforts clearly highlight the essential need to implement Mandatory COOL as soon as possible, and R-CALF will continue to work with Congress to accomplish this as quickly as we can," Beer continued. "It's high time Mandatory COOL was allowed to take effect, and we know, based on a study done by economists and law professors from several universities, that COOL can be implemented at a very minimal cost, and at no cost to producers.
"Additionally, in August 2003, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), issued a report that found USDA's inflated cost estimates for implementing Mandatory COOL were questionable and not well supported," Beer recalled. "It also suggested that USDA consider the National School Lunch Act as a useful model for implementing COOL, a model that establishes domestic origin by simply identifying imported cattle and beef.
"Many producers remember how, decades ago, the packers were vehemently fighting the implementation of the grade stamp, saying, just as they are now about COOL, how they would suffer exorbitant costs if such a program were allowed to take effect because it was unworkable and too costly," Beer said. "Yet, these days, most carcasses do carry the USDA grade stamp, which has become an important marketing tool for the industry.
"Packers were wrong about the costs of a grade stamp then, and in the very near future, their unfounded complaints about the costs of COOL will be proven wrong as well," Beer noted. "If Mandatory COOL were in effect today, consumers would clearly be able to differentiate imported beef products from domestic items, whether USDA had marked the product with a grade stamp or not."
# # #
R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues. R-CALF USA, a national, non-profit organization, is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA's membership consists primarily of cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and feedlot owners. Its members – over 18,000 strong – are located in 47 states, and the organization has over 60 local and state association affiliates, from both cattle and farm organizations. Various main street businesses are associate members of R-CALF USA. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.
For Immediate Release Contact: Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator
December 1, 2005 Phone: 406-672-8969; e-mail: [email protected]
Cattle Producers React to Proposed Legislation
to Change USDA Grade Stamp System
(Billings, Mont.) – In an effort to highlight the need to provide additional information to U.S. consumers about the beef they serve their families, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., along with co-sponsors Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., recently introduced legislation titled the "Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005" to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act.
Johnson's legislation would bar the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) from applying quality grade stamps on various cuts of imported meat and would classify imported beef or beef produced from imported cattle that has a USDA grade stamp as "misbranded," producing a net effect of ensuring imported meat cannot take advantage of the USDA grade stamp.
Beginning in 1962, USDA required that imported meats, including carcasses, sides and cuts be marked with a country-of-origin label until they were graded for quality (prime, choice, select, standard, commercial, utility, cutter and canner). Then, in 1980, USDA changed its requirements and began grading only carcasses, including imported carcasses. However, current regulations do not require the country-of-origin information to remain on meat cuts after they are processed.
Johnson pointed out that imported cattle from Canada and Mexico are clearly marked with country-of-origin information. Canadian cattle imported for immediate slaughter and imported Canadian feeder cattle are marked with a "CAN." Mexican feeder cattle also are identified with a hide brand, typically "M" or "Mx."
"We agree wholeheartedly that when a U.S. consumer goes to the meat counter and picks up a package of beef marked 'USDA Choice' and no other marking, then those shoppers should be guaranteed they're purchasing an item that they can count on to be of USA origin, 100 percent," said R-CALF USA COOL Committee Chair Danni Beer. "USDA's current grading system misleads consumers into thinking a USDA grade stamp means that product came from an animal born, raised and slaughtered here in the U.S. As Senator Johnson's legislation clearly points out, this is false, as the meat could well be of foreign origin.
"Senator Johnson's efforts clearly highlight the essential need to implement Mandatory COOL as soon as possible, and R-CALF will continue to work with Congress to accomplish this as quickly as we can," Beer continued. "It's high time Mandatory COOL was allowed to take effect, and we know, based on a study done by economists and law professors from several universities, that COOL can be implemented at a very minimal cost, and at no cost to producers.
"Additionally, in August 2003, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), issued a report that found USDA's inflated cost estimates for implementing Mandatory COOL were questionable and not well supported," Beer recalled. "It also suggested that USDA consider the National School Lunch Act as a useful model for implementing COOL, a model that establishes domestic origin by simply identifying imported cattle and beef.
"Many producers remember how, decades ago, the packers were vehemently fighting the implementation of the grade stamp, saying, just as they are now about COOL, how they would suffer exorbitant costs if such a program were allowed to take effect because it was unworkable and too costly," Beer said. "Yet, these days, most carcasses do carry the USDA grade stamp, which has become an important marketing tool for the industry.
"Packers were wrong about the costs of a grade stamp then, and in the very near future, their unfounded complaints about the costs of COOL will be proven wrong as well," Beer noted. "If Mandatory COOL were in effect today, consumers would clearly be able to differentiate imported beef products from domestic items, whether USDA had marked the product with a grade stamp or not."
# # #
R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues. R-CALF USA, a national, non-profit organization, is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA's membership consists primarily of cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and feedlot owners. Its members – over 18,000 strong – are located in 47 states, and the organization has over 60 local and state association affiliates, from both cattle and farm organizations. Various main street businesses are associate members of R-CALF USA. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.