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Anonymous
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Today 2/22/2005 9:50:59 AM
Cattle Update: NFU Applauds Efforts to Stop USDA's Canadian Border Plan
WASHINGTON (Feb. 21, 2005) National Farmers Union is encouraging co-sponsorship of legislation to rescind the U.S. Agriculture Department plan to resume Canadian live cattle trade.
NFU President Dave Frederickson today commended Reps. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., and Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., for introducing legislation to keep the border closed to Canadian cattle and beef products, which is similar to a bipartisan Senate bill introduced earlier this month.
"The members of National Farmers Union maintain it is inappropriate to proceed with USDA's plans at this time given Canada's most recent
discoveries of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the uncertainty of how many additional cases will be detected," said Frederickson. "U.S. producers and consumers deserve better."
The Farmers Union leader pointed out that America's largest export markets remain closed to U.S. beef due to the perception that BSE exists in the
domestic cattle herd following the discovery of a Canadian-origin cow in Washington state.
"Because of this, our producers have endured an economic loss of more than $2 billion," he said. "USDA should not open the flood gates to Canadian cattle and beef at least until those markets are re-established."
Frederickson outlined other measures that should happen before the border is re-opened for Canadian cattle and beef products, including:
-- Verification that Canada's cattle herd and beef products are BSE-free and that it is 100 percent compliant with the ruminant feed ban;
-- U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labeling is fully implemented;
-- Rapid-test technology is provided to all U.S. slaughtering facilities; and
-- A guaranteed economic safety net for American producers is established in case the importation of cattle and beef products from BSE-positive countries undermines domestic profitability.
National Farmers Union is asking producers and consumers to urge U.S. representatives and senators co-sponsor the pending legislation and oppose reopening the border until these conditions are met.
Cattle Update: NFU Applauds Efforts to Stop USDA's Canadian Border Plan
WASHINGTON (Feb. 21, 2005) National Farmers Union is encouraging co-sponsorship of legislation to rescind the U.S. Agriculture Department plan to resume Canadian live cattle trade.
NFU President Dave Frederickson today commended Reps. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., and Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., for introducing legislation to keep the border closed to Canadian cattle and beef products, which is similar to a bipartisan Senate bill introduced earlier this month.
"The members of National Farmers Union maintain it is inappropriate to proceed with USDA's plans at this time given Canada's most recent
discoveries of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the uncertainty of how many additional cases will be detected," said Frederickson. "U.S. producers and consumers deserve better."
The Farmers Union leader pointed out that America's largest export markets remain closed to U.S. beef due to the perception that BSE exists in the
domestic cattle herd following the discovery of a Canadian-origin cow in Washington state.
"Because of this, our producers have endured an economic loss of more than $2 billion," he said. "USDA should not open the flood gates to Canadian cattle and beef at least until those markets are re-established."
Frederickson outlined other measures that should happen before the border is re-opened for Canadian cattle and beef products, including:
-- Verification that Canada's cattle herd and beef products are BSE-free and that it is 100 percent compliant with the ruminant feed ban;
-- U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labeling is fully implemented;
-- Rapid-test technology is provided to all U.S. slaughtering facilities; and
-- A guaranteed economic safety net for American producers is established in case the importation of cattle and beef products from BSE-positive countries undermines domestic profitability.
National Farmers Union is asking producers and consumers to urge U.S. representatives and senators co-sponsor the pending legislation and oppose reopening the border until these conditions are met.
