American posturing

[rkaiser]

CATTLE: The Bush administration must restore U.S. beef exports to Japan and
South Korea before it opens the border to Canadian cattle, the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association said, shifting away from calling on the United
States to set a good example on beef trade for nations dealing with mad cow
disease. In its statement to members, first reported in Feedstuffs, NCBA said
it would "insist that by March 7 trade be re-established with Japan and South
Korea and expanded in Mexico through negotiations between the highest level of
government officials or further action will be taken." That was a marked
change from a couple of weeks ago when NCBA said, "We must normalize trade
with Canada in order for our industry to move forward in the global market-
place, expand our ability to sell U.S. beef to foreign consumers and put more
dollars in the pockets of U.S. producers."

[farmers_son]

I am sure the NCBA would like to see U.S. trade resumed with Japan and Korea. At least they are not saying our beef is unsafe.

Since December 2003 and the Washington Holstein I have held the view that live cattle trade between Canada and the U.S. was tied to trade resuming with Japan. And that trade with Japan was the underlying cause of the unreasonable delay in reopening our borders as much as the Presidential election. I would expect that we will see at the least very significant progress in the talks between Japan and the U.S. on beef trade before March 7.

I think the NCBA is just telling it like it is.

[rkaiser]

I agree farmer-son, no garbage talk about disease as of yet.

[rkaiser]

Hold on just a minute!!!!!
Garbage talk is on the agenda.
From Beef Cow-Calf Weekly-


NCBA To Reconsider Canada Cattle Imports Position
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) today announced it's initiating steps intended to reconsider its position on a USDA proposal to reopen the Canadian border to live cattle trade. The move is in response to the announcement last Thursday that starting March 7, USDA would begin allowing imports of Canadian cattle less than 30 months of age into the U.S.

Since that time, cattle producers around the country have strongly denounced the timing of the proposal to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian cattle following this week's anouncement of another case of BSE in Canada. Stokes says NCBA leadership has heard the criticisms of the USDA rules and understands how important this issue is to the cattle industry -- and how volatile it is among cattlemen around the country.

Therefore, a decision by NCBA members on whether to delay or move forward on implementation of the rule will occur at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention, February 2-5, in San Antonio.

NCBA members have a number of serious concerns about the Canadian cattle import rule, specifically in regard to:
The economic impact on cattle producers resulting from resuming trade with Canada without having reopened other export markets, specifically Japan.
The compliance of Canada's beef industry with its feed ban.
The economic implications of importing meat from Canadian cattle older than 30
The prevalence of BSE in Canada given the Jan. 2 announcement of a second case of BSE, the third of known Canadian origin.
NCBA has four goals in addressing these trade issues:
Ensure trade is resumed in a manner that prevents economic harm to cattle producers.
Regain the loss in value of exports to U.S. producers that occurred after the occurrence of BSE on Dec. 23, 2003 ($175/fed animal), through normalization of trade and create a foundation for growth in our export markets.
Protect the health of the U.S. cattle herd.
Maintain consumer confidence in the safety and quality of U.S. beef.
Following are the member-directed action steps NCBA is immediately initiating to give producers the facts they need to evaluate this rule.
Insist that by March 7 trade be re-established with Japan and South Korea and expanded in Mexico through negotiations between the highest-level of government officials or further action will be taken.
NCBA will send a team of members to Canada on a fact-finding mission to:
Identify the Canadian cattle that would qualify for export under the USDA rule and determine the potential economic impact on cattle producers.
Inspect feed manufacturers and demand Canadian government officials provide a detailed assessment of feed ban compliance.
Inspect border crossings to verify how cattle will be inspected, identified, have their age determined and be approved for entry into the U.S.
Verify Canadian compliance with BSE firewalls.
Clearly determine the bluetongue and anaplasmosis requirements to export feeder cattle to Canada to ensure harmonization of trade.
Evaluate Canada's BSE testing and surveillance program and review all the findings around the recent BSE cases.
This trade team will visit Canada the week of Jan. 17 and present its complete report to NCBA membership at the annual meeting in San Antonio as a basis for establishing or changing policy regarding trade with Canada.

Now, more than ever, Stokes says, NCBA needs to hear from its membership.

"We're working to have a reasoned, democratic process that allows members to resolve this issue," Stokes emphasizes. "We as a staff do not have the authority, nor does the executive committee have the power, to make an autonomous decision of this magnitude.

"It's imperative that NCBA members, and cattle association affiliates around the country concerned about this issue be in attendance at the annual meeting in San Antonio -- or contact a member who will be there.

"They can, through their state affiliates, or through individual members who come to the convention, enter policy that they want to be considered by NCBA membership," Stokes adds. "Ultimately, they will have the final say through the opportunity to vote in person at or through mail ballot which will be sent to all NCBA members immediately following the meeting."

The NCBA executive committee agrees this is a watershed issue for the cattle industry -- and for the future of NCBA. This rule is in a period of congressional review and won't become effective until March 7. Thus, the industry has time to take action on its concerns.

"What action NCBA ultimately takes on handling the reopening of the Canadian border will be decided by the membership," Stokes concludes. "Their decisions will become the marching orders for the organization."
-- Clint Peck

[FRENCHMAN]

i think we have been screwed over........AGAIN