OldDog/NewTricks
Well-known member
Beef News
Senators urge USDA to scrap beef import rule
By Tom Johnston on 2/5/2007 for Meatingplace.com
Multivac Inc
USDA should withdraw a proposed rule that would allow the United States to import Canadian cattle born after March 1, 1999, and beef from animals of any age, say U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.) and John Thune (R-S.D.).
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, the legislators contend "Increasing U.S. imports of Canadian cattle and beef at this time would have a significant negative impact on the economic well-being of American cattle producers and could seriously disrupt our efforts to expand U.S. beef exports overseas."
The senators further argue that USDA has underestimated the financial impact Canadian beef imports have on American producers, noting that prices for U.S.-fed cattle dropped nearly three times more than the agency anticipated following implementation of the 2005 Final Rule, which allowed the importation of cattle less than 30 months of age. "American ranchers, who have already experienced a severe summer drought, punishing winter snowstorms, and rising feed prices, should not have to endure another such drop in prices," they wrote.
Expanding Canadian cattle imports would also increase the possibility that a future case of BSE in a Canadian animal may be discovered in the United States, the senators argue, pointing out that three of Canada's nine BSE cases involved cattle born "long after" March 1, 1999.
If USDA does not withdraw the proposal, say the senators, it should be postponed until the agency fully implements mandatory country-of-origin labeling "as directed in the 2002 Farm Bill."
Senators urge USDA to scrap beef import rule
By Tom Johnston on 2/5/2007 for Meatingplace.com
Multivac Inc
USDA should withdraw a proposed rule that would allow the United States to import Canadian cattle born after March 1, 1999, and beef from animals of any age, say U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.) and John Thune (R-S.D.).
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, the legislators contend "Increasing U.S. imports of Canadian cattle and beef at this time would have a significant negative impact on the economic well-being of American cattle producers and could seriously disrupt our efforts to expand U.S. beef exports overseas."
The senators further argue that USDA has underestimated the financial impact Canadian beef imports have on American producers, noting that prices for U.S.-fed cattle dropped nearly three times more than the agency anticipated following implementation of the 2005 Final Rule, which allowed the importation of cattle less than 30 months of age. "American ranchers, who have already experienced a severe summer drought, punishing winter snowstorms, and rising feed prices, should not have to endure another such drop in prices," they wrote.
Expanding Canadian cattle imports would also increase the possibility that a future case of BSE in a Canadian animal may be discovered in the United States, the senators argue, pointing out that three of Canada's nine BSE cases involved cattle born "long after" March 1, 1999.
If USDA does not withdraw the proposal, say the senators, it should be postponed until the agency fully implements mandatory country-of-origin labeling "as directed in the 2002 Farm Bill."