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WHAT A CROCK OF BULL SHEIST

HAY MAKER

Well-known member
USDA Puts Animal ID on Voluntary Track

Sometimes Government Gets it Right

by Mike John

For several years, NCBA members have consistently held that a national animal identification system is necessary, but can be better accomplished on a voluntary, market-driven, and producer-led basis. While a government-mandated and government-controlled system may seem like an easier and quicker solution, NCBA has never viewed this as the answer. We’ve always maintained that the industry could provide a more secure, confidential, and efficient solution that would be met with much less resistance and mistrust than a government mandate.

At long last, we now have concurrence from USDA on this issue, which recently announced that it has no intention of making animal ID mandatory. I don’t consider this a 180-degree turn for USDA, which has said for months that its goal was to persuade most of the nation’s livestock producers to participate without imposing a mandate. But the looming threat of a mandatory deadline – even one pushed several years down the road – was clearly doing more harm than good in terms of producer participation. It lent fuel to protests and conspiracy theories, and really did nothing to give producers the information they needed to simply get involved.

I’m very proud of NCBA for abiding by the wishes of our membership, and not buckling to considerable pressure to advocate for a mandatory ID system. Nor did we “play to the crowd” out in the countryside by stirring up controversy or spreading unfounded fears about animal identification. As always, NCBA took a pragmatic stance on this issue – aimed not at gaining headlines or publicity, but simply at achieving positive results for cattlemen. That’s the approach that leads to long term success on major policy issues, and positive, productive solutions for the cattle industry.

What’s important now is that we actually capitalize on this important policy victory, and do everything we can to give voluntary, market-driven animal ID the momentum it needs to succeed. We cannot afford to simply tread water on this issue, as that could lead Congress or even USDA officials to rethink whether a mandate is really the only way to make animal identification happen. Fortunately, NCBA hasn’t merely been talking a good game on this issue, we’ve been taking important steps to support the creation of a system that will provide value-added opportunities for cattlemen, and meet the demands of both foreign and domestic customers who place an emphasis on source verification and traceability.

At this time, one of the most critical areas in which the livestock industry needs to show improvement is premises registration. USDA Under Secretary Bruce Knight recently reported that 23 percent of premises nationwide are now registered, and the agency hopes to push that figure to 25 percent by 2007. While this represents modest progress, those figures tell me that premises registration needs a significant shot in the arm. USDA has updated its National Animal Identification System User Guide and premises registration materials, which are now available to cattlemen on line at: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais. Along with its renewed emphasis on voluntary animal ID, these user-friendly tools should help USDA reach out to mainstream livestock producers. There will always be those who dig in their heels on the ID issue, but others simply need thorough, easy-to-access information to help them get started.

The cattle industry can certainly assist in this effort by better explaining the potential benefits of premises registration, as well as further steps that can be taken to register livestock movements and animal tracking data. These tools can help producers – both large and small – take advantage of value-added opportunities and improve their bottom line. But that process really begins with premises registration as a basic fundamental step. This isn’t confidential or sensitive data you’re providing. It’s really just contact and location information that can often be found in a phone book or other local directories.

Without premises registration, important profit opportunities could escape your grasp. But evidence is also mounting about the benefits of traceability when it comes to containing animal disease outbreaks and minimizing economic losses if such an event should occur. A recent study conducted by USDA in cooperation with Kansas State University shows that higher levels of traceability help streamline notification of livestock producers, as well as inoculation and prevention efforts. As a result, a potentially catastrophic disease can be more easily contained, and damage to the industry can be minimized.

I find it ironic and somewhat humorous that some organizations are lining up to take credit for USDA’s policy shift toward voluntary animal ID. When I first began speaking and writing about voluntary, market-driven animal ID many months ago, these same groups didn’t hesitate to take shots at me, as well as at NCBA. They must think we have really short memories…

But while this is an important victory for the cattle industry, I’m more interested in parlaying this policy shift into tangible, profitable results for cattlemen than engaging in any celebrations or self-congratulations. There’s a reason why NCBA doesn’t waste time “dancing in the end zone” or patting ourselves on the back. We’re already focusing on the next steps, and the challenges that still lie ahead. Our members expect and deserve nothing less.

Mike John is a cattleman from Huntsville, Missouri, and president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
For several years, NCBA members have consistently held that a national animal identification system is necessary, but can be better accomplished on a voluntary, market-driven, and producer-led basis.

Now compare that with the R-CULTers who said "don't consumers have the right to know where their beef comes from" then flip flopped and said "don't burden me with traceback" and confirmed this with a landslide vote against "M"ID.


~SH~
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Want to talk flip-flops, SH?

From a July, 2000 press release from NCBA.

International trade - Expanding trade will become increasingly important to cattle producers’ bottom lines.

Competition - NCBA supports the role of government in ensuring a competitive market through strong oversight, including enforcement when illegal activities such as collusion, antitrust and price fixing occur.

Country-of-origin labeling - Cattle producers support legislative and regulatory action that would rescind the use of USDA quality grade on imported beef carcasses and cattle imported for immediate slaughter. Producers also support mandatory country of origin labeling for imported beef.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
The comedy is how hard NCBA was pushing with USDA for mandatoryID, when they thought USDA would be able to give them the monopoly on the ID-and they would be running the Mandatory ID system for USDA....-- but when the country saw thru the illegalities of that and shot it down- then all of a sudden NCBA is for "voluntary" ID....

I agree Haymaker-- what a crock...NCBA was out for the almighty dollar and was again willing to sell out the cattleman for a few pieces of gold-- and now are trying to make themselves out to be the rightous saviours of the world... :roll: :lol:
 

HAY MAKER

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
The comedy is how hard NCBA was pushing with USDA for mandatoryID, when they thought USDA would be able to give them the monopoly on the ID-and they would be running the Mandatory ID system for USDA....-- but when the country saw thru the illegalities of that and shot it down- then all of a sudden NCBA is for "voluntary" ID....

I agree Haymaker-- what a crock...NCBA was out for the almighty dollar and was again willing to sell out the cattleman for a few pieces of gold-- and now are trying to make themselves out to be the rightous saviours of the world... :roll: :lol:

The NCBA,positioned themselves to control the NAIS when they thought it profitable,they have invested lot's of time/money into this project,now with no hope of it becoming mandatory,thus no increase in membership,they are for voluntary ?........I wonder if this project was funded with membership money or AMI's ?................good luck
 

Econ101

Well-known member
HAY MAKER said:
Oldtimer said:
The comedy is how hard NCBA was pushing with USDA for mandatoryID, when they thought USDA would be able to give them the monopoly on the ID-and they would be running the Mandatory ID system for USDA....-- but when the country saw thru the illegalities of that and shot it down- then all of a sudden NCBA is for "voluntary" ID....

I agree Haymaker-- what a crock...NCBA was out for the almighty dollar and was again willing to sell out the cattleman for a few pieces of gold-- and now are trying to make themselves out to be the rightous saviours of the world... :roll: :lol:

The NCBA,positioned themselves to control the NAIS when they thought it profitable,they have invested lot's of time/money into this project,now with no hope of it becoming mandatory,thus no increase in membership,they are for voluntary ?........I wonder if this project was funded with membership money or AMI's ?................good luck

The AMI doesn't have to spend their own money when they control the NCBA's. They have quite a deal going. Use producer money against producers.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
HAY MAKER said:
Oldtimer said:
The comedy is how hard NCBA was pushing with USDA for mandatoryID, when they thought USDA would be able to give them the monopoly on the ID-and they would be running the Mandatory ID system for USDA....-- but when the country saw thru the illegalities of that and shot it down- then all of a sudden NCBA is for "voluntary" ID....

I agree Haymaker-- what a crock...NCBA was out for the almighty dollar and was again willing to sell out the cattleman for a few pieces of gold-- and now are trying to make themselves out to be the rightous saviours of the world... :roll: :lol:

The NCBA,positioned themselves to control the NAIS when they thought it profitable,they have invested lot's of time/money into this project,now with no hope of it becoming mandatory,thus no increase in membership,they are for voluntary ?........I wonder if this project was funded with membership money or AMI's ?................good luck

Actually Haymaker- I think NCBA's initial stand, trying to make it mandatory and trying to control it, not only lost them membership but lost them a lot of credibility in the cattle world...I've witnessed more than one near fist fight where one local strong NCBA backer got told where to shove their mandatory ID- and their money making scheming- and told that NCBA would never see another dime of their money again.... And it created an anti ID movement- that now will fight any ID changes any which way it goes....

It was nearly as dumb a move on the NCBA's part as their flip flop on the M-COOL law was...

Yep- more folks are waking up to whats really happening......
 

nenmrancher

Well-known member
Yeah and there are alot of us younger people out there that are looking at the leadership and the partisan sniping and flat out stupidity of both RCalf and NCBA and thinking that we would be alot better of with out either organization. I also think that there is a bunch of old hard headed fools out there that think one organization or the other has screwed them and that there way is the only one that is right. You old farts had better watch it or you will be the one to kill the way of life for the next generations on the way into the business.
 

PORKER

Well-known member
The comedy is how hard NCBA was pushing with USDA for mandatoryID, when they thought USDA would be able to give them the monopoly on the ID-and they would be running the Mandatory ID system for USDA....-- ****** They even hired Bearing point and asked for proposals from many company's including ScoringSystem as told by their CEO, as they had and still have the best Security databases going.I 'am glad they didn't sell out to those wantabe's at ncba.Private enterprise is better and cheaper an safer.
 

nenmrancher

Well-known member
Porker do you ever contribute anything to the board other than shameless pitches for your company? If you do I have never seen a post of yours that would prove it. You are as bad as either the Rcalf or NCBA supporters.
 

nenmrancher

Well-known member
Just checking seems like all you do is put plugs for your buisness up and then split, and yes I spend my days keeping the family place a running so my dad can spend considerable time working for the industry and I do to when I am not busy with the boards I serve on.
 

PORKER

Well-known member
If your tractor is green and you like it , if your cutting horse is the best and you like it , and if your recordkeeping system is the best you brag about it.
Won't be on here for a few days as this snowbird is off to Florida with our trail horses and wife to spend the winter not pushing SNOW. We just got to much of it here in northern Michigan . Can't wait to go riding with those southern neighbors and go sale 'en and to the auctions. Twice the cattle numbers in Florida and I love it.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
nenmrancher said:
Yeah and there are alot of us younger people out there that are looking at the leadership and the partisan sniping and flat out stupidity of both RCalf and NCBA and thinking that we would be alot better of with out either organization. I also think that there is a bunch of old hard headed fools out there that think one organization or the other has screwed them and that there way is the only one that is right. You old farts had better watch it or you will be the one to kill the way of life for the next generations on the way into the business.

NMrancher-- I agree there is a huge split in the industry--- most of which came about when the NCBA decided that the cattle industry should include the beef industry-- which has not been compatible....

All I ask you-- is go back and look at the press releases of a year to two years ago coming out of the NCBA and their support for USDA mandating the National Livestock ID and their promotion of a one "private ownership" national ID- compare these with now and their calling for voluntary ID (since they were told they couldn't get the one private ID ownership)-- a flip flop....

Then go back and read the late 1990's press releases and legislative testimony of the NCBA where they called for Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling- and testified to the importance of it--- and compare it to their releases of today condemning it-- a flip flop...

Then ask yourself- Who has split the industry apart with their continual FLIP FLOPPING ON ISSUES :???:
 

ocm

Well-known member
A little over a year ago I was told on more than one occasion that national ID was inevitable. I argued that it was not.

Now some say that national ID is dead. I will tell you that it is not.

As far as R-CALF efforts go the change to a Democrat Congress will make some things harder and some more difficult. COOL will be easier. But keep your eye on the new House Ag Committee chairman. He wants national ID. We will have to work hard to convince him it is unnecessary.

I have some ideas I will be presenting to some people at the R-CALF convention.
 

nenmrancher

Well-known member
What I see that has caused the biggest part of the split in the industry is a bunch of hard headed old fools that would argue with each other about what color the sky is just because they think they have been wronged at some point by the other. I still say that neither organization is wrong or right they are both just out to destroy each other in their quest to prove the other wrong in any way possible.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
ocm said:
A little over a year ago I was told on more than one occasion that national ID was inevitable. I argued that it was not.

Now some say that national ID is dead. I will tell you that it is not.

As far as R-CALF efforts go the change to a Democrat Congress will make some things harder and some more difficult. COOL will be easier. But keep your eye on the new House Ag Committee chairman. He wants national ID. We will have to work hard to convince him it is unnecessary.

I have some ideas I will be presenting to some people at the R-CALF convention.

I agree 100% ocm-- Several of the new folk in a power position now are very pro Mandatory ID-- and it will be harder to stop-- but it would make it much more easier to swallow if M-COOL was up and running....I could have IDed this year- but was told by the buyer it was worthless to him--which made it more than worthless to me-- I think the beef industry (packers) should pay incentives to get it if its so important- and thats what these folks in Congress need to be convinced of.....
 

ocm

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
ocm said:
A little over a year ago I was told on more than one occasion that national ID was inevitable. I argued that it was not.

Now some say that national ID is dead. I will tell you that it is not.

As far as R-CALF efforts go the change to a Democrat Congress will make some things harder and some more difficult. COOL will be easier. But keep your eye on the new House Ag Committee chairman. He wants national ID. We will have to work hard to convince him it is unnecessary.

I have some ideas I will be presenting to some people at the R-CALF convention.

I agree 100% ocm-- Several of the new folk in a power position now are very pro Mandatory ID-- and it will be harder to stop-- but it would make it much more easier to swallow if M-COOL was up and running....I could have IDed this year- but was told by the buyer it was worthless to him--which made it more than worthless to me-- I think the beef industry (packers) should pay incentives to get it if its so important- and thats what these folks in Congress need to be convinced of.....

Bruce Knight was recently told (by an R-CALFer) that ID mandated by the government was centralized planning, that the packers would get source verified cattle free. It really set Bruce back to hear that. It let him know what people "in the field" thought of the program, that it is a scam to benefit the packers. About a week later Knight announced that ID would be voluntary. I think he personally may even be sincere. But I just don't trust the government.

The biggest health argument used for ID is FMD. And it's a bogus argument. 48 hour traceback is way too slow. The current protocol calls for a geographic response. That would work best even if we had ID. So even a part of the health argument is phony. We need to be ready with answers.
 

Bill

Well-known member
PORKER said:
If your tractor is green and you like it , if your cutting horse is the best and you like it , and if your recordkeeping system is the best you brag about it.
Won't be on here for a few days as this snowbird is off to Florida with our trail horses and wife to spend the winter not pushing SNOW. We just got to much of it here in northern Michigan . Can't wait to go riding with those southern neighbors and go sale 'en and to the auctions. Twice the cattle numbers in Florida and I love it.

Porker page 1:
I spend my time writing storys for the press, agriculture ,and scientific journals while Ranching and You ?

You sound like a paperback rancher.
 
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