Canadian Border Comment Period

[Anonymous]

Remember there is only 1 more day to file comments in opposition to the proposed OTM rule before the March 12 deadline. Submit comments by either of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main , select "Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service" from the agency drop-down menu, then click "Submit." In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0041 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's "User Tips" link.

Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS 2006-0041, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS 2006-0041

 

[canadian angus]

Was on a conference call two weeks ago and this was discussed. The comment period is not the immediate or even eventual opening as the could take quite a whilr. For all concerned I wish we all could put down our sling shots and live as we did when we were kids.

The sand box was a neutral place.

CA

 

[Tam]

If you do comment I hope you have more knowledge about the issues than this commenter did

I have just completed my first year as a cattle rancher. I enjoy it very much. My ranch is near the Canadian border. I am asking you not to open the border to Canadian beef. I firmly believe that if there is a case of ?Mad Cow? in the United States my career as a rancher will end. The Government has an obligation to protect its citizens from a fatal disease that has not been completely researched.
I would like to keep ranching as my career.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Someone should have filled this commenter in that the US has BSE in their native herd :wink:

 

[Silver]

I read alot of the comments last time they held their comment period, and I was shocked and disappointed at the general ignorance of the situation by those people writing in.

 

[Anonymous]

In scanning over the comments to USDA- I'd say they are running about 95% against the border opening to old Canadian cattle...In fact if it wasn't for the Packer and Canadian comments it would be 100% OPPOSED as to how the rule is presently written....

 

[rkaiser]

Who's packer commnets are those Oldtimer? Are they the ones on the south side of the 49th trying to survive without those Canuck cows, or are the commnets some lies from Cargill and Tyson who are still enjoying the fruits of the closed border. A fellow told me $20.00 basis these days. With all the rules in place it should be about 5 bucks.

Keep helping yer buddies at Cargill and Tyson Oltimer - they need your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rkaiser]

I could have edited that post, but in typical Canadian fashion, I will apologize instead. Cargill and Tyson are likely not lying and may well oppose the open border, as rule 2 is a little unclear as to whether they can stop cows from crossing the line with all four feet on the floor of a triaxle trailer. This Canadian cull cow beef thing is turnig out to be a gravy train they don't want to jump off too soon.

What do you think Tam?

 

[Anonymous]

Who's packer commnets are those Oldtimer? Are they the ones on the south side of the 49th trying to survive without those Canuck cows, or are the commnets some lies from Cargill and Tyson who are still enjoying the fruits of the closed border.

Most are all the same folks kaiser...AMI, AMA. AFF,-- all the same folks that want to get their hands on all their captive supply and use the border and the greater supply range to manipulate down more prices...

Except for the Packers- I don't think there was a US individual or group that I read that backed it - without some kind of change...

99% want M-COOL before opening ( something we may be able to get Congress to force USDA to do if enough pressure is put on)-- and many want the USDA to come up with a better tracking system for imported cattle-- with most (including several state vets) requesting Hot Iron brands as the minimum ID requirement, noting that tattoos and freeze brands are too unreliable......

Under Montana executive order issued by the Governor- we already have a rule that ALL cattle entering the state from Canada must be tagged with Canadian tags, and within 72 hours of entry must be inspected by a Montana State Vet who ascertains that every tag number matches the border manifest and by a brand inspector that ascertains ALL be branded with the C^N hot iron brand on the right hip (all at the owners expense)......

 

[Kato]

Who's packer commnets are those Oldtimer? Are they the ones on the south side of the 49th trying to survive without those Canuck cows, or are the commnets some lies from Cargill and Tyson who are still enjoying the fruits of the closed border.

Most are all the same folks kaiser...AMI, AMA. AFF,-- all the same folks that want to get their hands on all their captive supply and use the border and the greater supply range to manipulate down more prices...

Except for the Packers- I don't think there was a US individual or group that I read that backed it - without some kind of change...

What kind of change? Please expand on that?

99% want M-COOL before opening ( something we may be able to get Congress to force USDA to do if enough pressure is put on)-- and many want the USDA to come up with a better tracking system for imported cattle-- with most (including several state vets) requesting Hot Iron brands as the minimum ID requirement, noting that tattoos and freeze brands are too unreliable......

Canadian feeders already have brands. There is no opposition up here to branding breeding stock either.

As well, there should be a tracking system for your own cattle too. Your BSE status in the world is the same as ours, which leads to a whole other level of trade issues. Does one country which is of exactly the same controlled risk category in regards to BSE have a legal ground to exclude cattle from another country with exactly the same risk, especially using the excuse of BSE? I would think there would be all kinds of legal challenges set off by such a move. If Canada were to lose such a legal challenge, which I doubt, it would set a precedent, and give a mountain of ammunition to countries who wish to keep American beef out. If Canada were to win such a challenge, which is more likely, the end result would be the usual one of lawyers getting richer, and the border opening as planned anyway.

Under Montana executive order issued by the Governor- we already have a rule that ALL cattle entering the state from Canada must be tagged with Canadian tags, and within 72 hours of entry must be inspected by a Montana State Vet who ascertains that every tag number matches the border manifest and by a brand inspector that ascertains ALL be branded with the C^N hot iron brand on the right hip (all at the owners expense)......

There's a good politician. :wink: Take the rules that are already in place, add one level of inspection at the state level, which is redundant, but politically correct in your state of black helicopters and conspiracy theories, and claim it as his own salvation of the cattlemen of Montana. He may be getting brownie points locally, but all he's really saying is that your federal government can not be relied upon to do the job properly. Undermining your current inspection system for political gain will help him more than cattle producers, but I guess that's not important in some circles. :roll: See it as it really is, a politically motivated gesture.

 

[Anonymous]

but all he's really saying is that your federal government can not be relied upon to do the job properly

And from the looks of it he's right...USDA can't/won't keep track of feeders in Washington- nor fats coming across the border for just 24 hours in SD (?)...To me it appears the Montana Dept. of Livestock and the Governor had a legitimate concern.....

And Kato- if you don't like our tracking system- quit taking our cattle or beef...Let us decide what needs to be done with those cattle once the cattle come south of the 49th...

I want a clear cut tracking system on imports so the next Washington type cow doesn't take 2 weeks and Billions $ economic loss to track....Or the next disease Canada sends south or Mexico sends north can quickly be IDed to true origin....

 

[TimH]

but all he's really saying is that your federal government can not be relied upon to do the job properly

And from the looks of it he's right...USDA can't/won't keep track of feeders in Washington- nor fats coming across the border for just 24 hours in SD (?)...To me it appears the Montana Dept. of Livestock and the Governor had a legitimate concern.....

And Kato- if you don't like our tracking system- quit taking our cattle or beef...Let us decide what needs to be done with those cattle once the cattle come south of the 49th...

I want a clear cut tracking system on imports so the next Washington type cow doesn't take 2 weeks and Billions $ economic loss to track....Or the next disease Canada sends south or Mexico sends north can quickly be IDed to true origin....

What about DOMESTIC disease cases OT?? Were the Texas and/or Alabama BSE POSITIVE cows ever traced to their herd of origin???? How about if another REAL disease like FMD shows up in,lets say......Montana.........???
Hey, have you sent any money to R-Calf lately??

 

[Tam]

In scanning over the comments to USDA- I'd say they are running about 95% against the border opening to old Canadian cattle...In fact if it wasn't for the Packer and Canadian comments it would be 100% OPPOSED as to how the rule is presently written....

I read most of the comments and I found that the one I posted here was only one of a LOT that were commenting with little to NO KNOWLEDGE of the BSE issue in Canada or the USA.
Comments like

The cattle coming from Canada and other infected BSE countries should not be allowed into the U.S.A. food system.

Does this commenter know that the USA is a BSE affected country :shock:

it is clear that bse is a grave, final disease. i do not believe that we are aware of how many diseases are in fact caused by this disease since usda does not want that known since their cattle ranch profiteers would not make money if it was known.

Should the US consumers be eating US beef in this commenter's opinion? :???:

i do not want any live bovines imported. we do not need this. americans eat too much meat in the first place and such food should be diminished and more greens eaten.

Can any one say ANTI BEEF :nod: Maybe he would like a plate of US grown Spinach. :wink:

I am opposed to the proposed USDA allowing cattle coming from Canada and other BSE infected countries to be allowed into the U.S.A. As a wife and mother, I am concerned about what I am feeding my family. I want assurance the meat I put on the table is BSE free.

I guess this commenter better be looking for imported beef from a country that has not found BSE in their native herd

Effective March 1 2007 all animals in Michigan will be required to have a permanent farm identification number before leaving the farm. I think it should be required for all animals entering the United States to have a permanent I.D. which could trace the animal back to the farm of origin.

What about the rest of the States (ALABAMA) in the US can they trace back to the farm of origin LIKE CANADA CAN? :wink:


Just a sampling of the crap that some US commenters think the USDA needs to wade through. Good for a laugh but a complete waste of the USDA's time and tax payers dollars. :roll: :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Like I said before Tam-- if you mention BSE, the largest percentage of consumers will say " Oh thats the mad cow disease Canada has"...

The reason we need M-COOL implemented before the border is opened to OTM's- and we lose confidence in our domestic consumers.....

 

[Tam]

Gee almost forgot this little gem Oldtimer

General Comment:I am writing to voice my objection to allowing Canadian cattle imports into the United States. I don't know how you can justify allowing cattle imports from any country that has a problem with BSE. All the sound science in the world can't cover up the fact that Canada has a BSE problem in their cattle herd. The only
TRUE BSE case in the United States was a Canadian cow. This is a matter of national security to keep our food supply safe. As a consumer I want to know where my food comes from and what regulations are in place to make it safe.

Again does this commenter know anything about BSE in the US herd and your firewalls. :? :shock:

 

[Tam]

Like I said before Tam-- if you mention BSE, the largest percentage of consumers will say " Oh thats the mad cow disease Canada has"...

The reason we need M-COOL implemented before the border is opened to OTM's- and we lose confidence in our domestic consumers.....

This tells everyone just how much you care about the safety of the US consumers. :shock: You claim you want the consumers to know the risk associated with the food they are eating, but you know they don't know the truth about the risk associated with eating US beef. As long as they are willing to buy "US beef" who cares if they know they are in just as much risk from it as they are from imported.

You are truly pathetic Oldtimer and I hope everyone can see how little you care about the truth and safety of the US consumers :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Tam- the truth is they know how much HIGHER RISK Canadian beef and cattle are and how pathetic it is that Canadian producers support the Packer Mafia's policy of not allowing them to make a free informed choice- all so these Canadian producers/Packer Mafia can sell the product.... :roll:

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

Tam you are dead on the money about OT. Actually if you think about it I wonder how many comments he has sent in. This sounds like all of the idiotic responses and comments he posts on here about Canada and BSE .

 

[Tam]

Tam- the truth is they know how much HIGHER RISK Canadian beef and cattle are and how pathetic it is that Canadian producers support the Packer Mafia's policy of not allowing them to make a free informed choice- all so these Canadian producers/Packer Mafia can sell the product.... :roll:

Is it a truly informed choice when they don't even realize the risk that US cattle presents? I would say well over 50% of the comments I read were under the impression that the US DOESN"T HAVE BSE. Which you and I both know is a damn lie. And you are willing to allow them to believe it as long as is sells the PRESUMED SAFER US BEEF. Tell us Oldtimer when you are out filling people in on the BSE issues and bad mouthing Canadian beef do you bother to explain that the US HAS BSE TOO? If you cared at all you would be filling them in on the truth the WHOLE TRUTH and let them truly make an informed choice even if that infomed choice was to eat IMPORTED BEEF!!!!!! :roll:

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

i firmly oppose all imports of either live bovines or meat
from any bovines from any other country.

it is clear that bse is a grave, final disease. i do not believe that we are aware of
how many diseases are in fact caused by this disease since usda does not want
that known since their cattle ranch profiteers would not make money if it was
known.

i do not want any live bovines imported. we do not need this. americans eat
toomuch meat in the first place and such food should be diminished and more
greens eaten.





Are these the kind of comments you are relating to OT? Eat less beef and more greens.? :roll:

 

[Kato]

The people at the USDA know perfectly well which comments are off base. They will give them the attention they deserve. :roll: