Oldtimer said:
Tuesday, March 13. 2007
Dennis McDonald Resigns from R-Calf
March 12, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
The implosion of R-CALF occurred in large part as a result of the most
ferocious power grabs I have ever witnessed. The effort started more than a
year ago with a concerted effort to rid the organization of Leo McDonnell,
myself, and others. A letter written to Chuck Kiker, the President of
R-CALF, and sent by Bill Bullard says that Bullard was having trouble
working with the former President (Leo McDonnell) since Leo wanted to work
on other issues rather than the litigation effort alone. Bullard mentions
that this "inherent conflict worsened in 2006." Thus the stage was being set
for Leo's expulsion. I fought hard to prevent this outcome, but in the end I
failed and for that I apologize.
The effort continued to oust the founders since many of us felt that though
it is very important to prevent the importation of Canadian cattle, and
particularly cattle over 30 months of age, continued litigation was not the
proper course. We lost the original case and all knew further litigation had
only a remote chance of succeeding. Consequently, I felt asking producers to
continue to fund a losing effort without disclosing the long odds of success
was immoral. Instead, many of us thought trying the case in the arena of
public opinion and in the Congress was the proper course and could be done
at far less expense. Producers need to be told that further litigation will
cost over a million dollars and offers only a glimpse of hope. This policy
debate, however, was only incidental to the power grab that occurred on
February 8. It was on this date that Chuck Kiker and Leo were expelled.
The full letter of resignation was sent to Swift Horses and can be found
here. It is really sad to see that the whole founding group of R-Calf has
now resigned. I felt the move to a lobbying group in Washington was the
right thing to do and continuing to litigate was getting them nowhere. Denis
explains all this in the letter very well and R-Calf members need to sit up
and pay attention.
Dennis alludes to a new organization being formed called UNITED STATES
CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION to carry on where R-Calf has left off in Washington.
I have no more information on this organization but I am interested to see
some information come out about it. Hopefully Swift Horses will have more
information as it comes along.
http://sarpysam.com/plugin/freetag/r-calf?url=plugin/freetag/r-calf
Wednesday, February 8. 2006
Bigger Picture
OIG Report Solidifies Position of U.S. Cattle Industry; USDA Continues to
Ignore Its Own Science
BILLINGS, MONT. (February 7, 2006) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report that substantiates the
concerns raised by R-CALF USA when the organization filed its challenge to
USDA?s minimal risk region rule (Final Rule) that allowed into the United
States imports of beef and cattle from countries affected with bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
R-CALF USA has contended throughout its litigation that USDA officials were
ignoring the science surrounding BSE, including the recommendations of the
agency?s own scientists. Specifically, OIG found that USDA headquarters
ignored recommendations of its National Veterinary Services Laboratories
scientists.
?This report provides a documented example of how USDA dismisses the advice
of its own scientists, while simultaneously assuring the public that the
agency is following the science, and this conduct continues to cause great
concern among independent cattle producers,? said R-CALF USA CEO Bill
Bullard.
.....
?It is past time for USDA to get its house in order, to acknowledge that it
has a problem, and to take immediate corrective action to ensure maximum
protections against the introduction of diseases like BSE,? Bullard
emphasized. ?USDA needs to implement Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling
(M-COOL) so consumers can distinguish U.S. beef from foreign beef, allow
private packers to voluntarily test for BSE so export markets can be more
fully opened, and require countries with multiple cases of BSE to implement
stronger, science-based risk mitigation measures to ensure that diseases are
adequately controlled before relaxing our country?s longstanding import
restrictions.?
Anybody who reads here regular knows my position on these things. The USDA
is controlled by the meat packers and sets it's policies in the meat packers
favor. The only place I would differentiate my self from the R-CALF
statement is I think Congress needs to investigate the USDA with an eye
towards removing the influences of the big agri business corporations that
guide USDA policies in their favor and punish he small producers of the US.
Basically, R-CALF is just worried about imported beef and it's affect on
producers and consumers while I feel we need to get the whole USDA under
control and responsive to Americas needs when it comes to food security and
safety ,not just as a pawn to protect beef producers from imports. Taking a
little bigger view of the situation will help all Americans and make R-CALF
seem like a less of a radical organization.
The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close-up.
Chuck Palahniuk
http://www.sarpysam.com/plugin/freetag/r-calf/P2.html
http://www.texascattleraisers.org/newsDesk/grinch_Billings_tscra_texas_cattle.asp
tss