FALLS CITY -- The environmental issues currently being discussed by congressmen on Capitol Hill were brought to the back 40 when Jess Peterson, executive vice president of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), addressed area cattlemen Oct. 14 during a town hall meeting. Members of the South Texas Independent Cattlemen’s Association sponsored the meeting.
As reported in the Nov. 4 Wilson County News, Peterson addressed issues such as country-of-origin labeling (COOL) and foot-and-mouth disease. These were not the only issues that cattlemen, including Peterson and the cattlemen’s association, are monitoring closely. Some issues involve how cattlemen will conduct business in the future.
NAIS
A prime issue is the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Peterson said the USCA endorses a voluntary program, one that keeps existing programs -- brand inspections, health certificates, and brucellosis and tuberculosis programs -- in place. The USCA supports the decision of the Agricultural Conference Committee that cut the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for the NAIS program by more than half for the 2010 fiscal year.
The NAIS program aims to provide the USDA an effective animal-tracking system to help maintain the health of U.S. herds and flocks. The identification program would allow state health departments and animal departments to trace animals within 48 hours after the detection of a disease.
In a question-and-answer session after the meeting, Peterson said all mention of the NAIS program was removed from HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. Those opposed to NAIS were concerned this bill would support the identification program.
While this program pertained to disease outbreaks, the next bill could hamper the efforts of cattlemen while they try to prevent diseases or treat animals in their herds, Peterson said.
Legislation
Peterson went on to discuss other legislation that could impact producers.
If the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2009 is approved, Peterson said, the cattle industry will be “dealt a blow.”
The National Cattle-men’s Beef Association and the USCA have united in their efforts to ask Congress not to ban drugs used to treat or prevent diseases in animals.
Other legislation on estate-tax reform could affect family-owned farms and ranches, Peterson said. In the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, a one-year termination of the estate tax is due to occur in 2010.
Since lawmakers in Washington are discussing health-care reform, Peterson said environmental issues, such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, are being postponed for later discussion.
The Senate has approved its version of the revised Clean Water Act, Peterson said. He added the House version is uncertain at this time.
Another environmental bill pertains to the Environmental Protection Agency’s ruling that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, were found to “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.” This ruling could create a cattle gas tax under the provisions of the Clean Air Act.
The USCA is monitoring this closely, to make sure an agricultural exemption for gas emissions is kept in place.
Humane Society
The U.S. Humane Society has become involved in the controversial issue of emissions, petitioning the EPA to request feedlots with more than 1,000 head to be regulated under the Clean Air Act legislation.
The cattlemen’s association is following an “aggressive” agenda, requesting agricultural exemptions to “ensure EPA is not in your back yard,” Peterson said.
The U.S. Humane Society was also mentioned in relation to the beef checkoff program. Checkoff promotes the consumption of beef.
The Beef Checkoff Modernization Act that was introduced earlier in the year allows beef checkoff funding to be used for the promotion of beef produced in the United States.
While the beef checkoff program promotes U.S. beef, the Humane Society is involved in campaigns against the consumption of beef, Peterson said. It is also involved in campaigns against animal-husbandry practices commonly used by cattlemen.
“The best expert [in animal husbandry] is your group … and the USCA needs input on how issues will affect your operation,” Peterson said.
Peterson asked cattlemen to become more involved in the industry, because of the many proposed changes. He suggested that producers support the Independent Cattlemen’s Association, which is “feeding the world.”
Your Opinions and Comments
Sue Diederich Palatine, IL November 11, 2009 12:10pm
How absolutely ridiculous... NAIS has absolutely nothing to do with tracking anything other than the Almighty Dollar. In a country that is able, but refuses to supply 100% ... Read More
How absolutely ridiculous... NAIS has absolutely nothing to do with tracking anything other than the Almighty Dollar. In a country that is able, but refuses to supply 100% of its own food, has no disease of record and still insists in IMPORTING disease while exporting our own food, one would think producers and consumers would rise up against the lies. But - not so.
HSUS, the "Humans Susceptible to Utter Stupidity" organization can raise $91 million per year, spend 40% on salaries, another 50%+ on lobbyists and STILL not account for the rest so far as anything USEFUL.
Peterson, who supports exporting as much as possible, while importing BSE cattle from Canada and cattle with TB from Mexico, should be tarred and feathered for this pile of manure. I've seen smaller ones out back of racing stables.
If we stopped IMPORTING diseased animals, maintained original quarantines instead of shortening them at every turn, TESTED, like Creekstone offered to do at their own expense, and actually enforced inspections, we wouldn't have to worry about a disease this country hasn't seen in over 6 decades (Foot and Mouth), nor would we have to worry about outbreaks other than those promised by the moving of Plum Island to the center of the landmass of our country.
Its about time people woke up and started facing facts before no one but Cargil and Smithfield can afford to raise animals, and the quality of meat for human consumption looks more like the swill fed to prisoners at Camp McDonald and Andersonville.
These acts are nothing less than an end run at the last remaining rights of American citizens. The Clean Water Act and Wildlands Management Acts are land grabs. So is the NAIS program's Premise ID.
And people buy into this because the USDA and FDA are FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS catering to those who fail inspections and are allowed to continue on as if nothing is wrong.
Heads out of butts, people - not one iota of this has to do with food safety, humane treatment of animals, clean water, sustainable energy, pollution or ecology. What it does have to do with is the rape of private property and your wallets.
