Asleep At the Wheel

[farmers_son]

While the 9th Circuit Court overturned the temporary injunction that was blocking live imports of Canadian live cattle on July 14 we are being told that we will not see actual cattle cross the line until July 20, if then, as the protocols for importing live cattle get ironed out.

To me this is outrageous. That USDA rule was in place since January 2005. It was to have come into effect March 2005. It is now July 2005, the USDA rule is law in the United States but our cattle are not flowing into the U.S. because the protocols were not ready. Maybe next week...

Officials on both sides of the border have had more than enough time to get the protocols in place to allow shipments of live cattle once the USDA rule was in place. The border closure is recognized as costing Canadian producers $200 Million a month in lost revenue. That is $50 million a week. Seven million dollars a day. You would think that someone could have been working on this before now.

[PureCountry]

Yeah, what the hell else do we need to do? We're taking beef from other countries right now. We've agreed to take cattle from the US since we tossed out the rulebook on Bluetongue and anaplasmosis. What's next? Oh look...the Hon. Cebull ruled in favor of R-Calf again. Let's lock up the border for another 6 months!!

And what will the CCA and ABP say? "We are very disappointed with today's ruling. We would like to try other avenues to plead our case, but right now our knees and rear-end are too sore to walk anywhere!!"

When will we ever have someone who's not afraid to carry the flag higher, wave it a little wider, and shout a bit louder? Why are our 'representatives' whether it be in agriculture or politics, so set on being 'correct' first and 'right' second. It's time they let both nuts down, dropped the gloves and got something done. I know it's been said on here before, but if I accomplished what our rep.'s and delegates have, in my line of work, I'd be fired AND black-labelled.

I know not everyone is a fan of Ralph Klein, but at least he says what's on his mind. He doesn't butter everybody's bread, but how can you and still be satisfied yourself?

My grandfather used to say, be cautious of a man who has no enemies; no one is that nice. Well I think it's time we stopped worrying about angering the Americans or making enemies. What if we looked at it like some of them do? If we wanted to, we could obviously cripple their packing industry! They need our cattle to stay open.

Anyway, gotta go get some breakfast. Maybe I'll be cheerier with a full stomach.

[grassfarmer]

F-S, That is much as I feared, as I said a few days ago it's the way burocracy works. They weren't ready to go on March 7th and they will be lucky to get moving on July 20th. To them there is no hurry because they get paid regardless.

[rkaiser]

Asleep at the wheel, or some larger purpose.

I have never beleived that Rcalf and their piddle assed law suits could not have been delt with more substantially by the Governement "Had they been driven".

Call it a conspiracy theory if you like, but this delay is one more of many points that show the desire for the border to be opened by the White horse riding USDA. How quick were things delt with in Sept. 2003 when money and power made the rules for Boxed beef.

Rcalf is a bunch of simple minded protectionist who have been used a scapegoat by those with the power and the money.

Hi di ho Neighbors!

[kato]

But the protocols were in place on March 7. At the vet clinic I work for we had an appointment booked to inspect a load of cattle for export. Someone was waiting for them at the other end. The deals had been made. Trucks were booked.

The CFIA had already done meetings with the vets who are certified for inspections, and we had all our ducks in a row. We were waiting for them to email us a copy of the new export papers, and that's all we needed to get going.

By the time deals are made, the cattle are inspected, and mouthed, and the papers are filled in and endorsed and ready, the 20th is not out of line. Filling in the export papers for a load of fats alone is going to take time. Not only do we need the ccia numbers, description, and age of each animal, but they want them listed on the paper in numerical order by ccia tag numbers. One mistake and the whole load comes home again.

I have dealt with difficult USDA vets before, and you would not believe how hard some will look for a reason to turn a load back. It's amazing. I can see something as small as not listing an old brand in the description, or not noting a white spot or maybe even a one inch patch of ringworm on one animal being used as an excuse to turn back a whole load.

We've got to get absolutely everything correct. Anyone who is shipping cattle can help speed it up by recording the ccia numbers. ages and descriptions ahead of time, and then the vet just has to verify. That alone can knock a half a day off the time needed.

[silverback]

So tell me what does it take for a U.S. feedlot to ship calves here for slaughter?.

Let me guess, put them on a truck and wait for the cheque in the mail the next day. Maybe I am wrong?

[cakadu]

Well blood testing them for blue tongue and anaplasmosis seemed to be just a little too much time, money and effort so you might not be too far off, silverback.

I haven't yet seen any information on whether or not the other ruminants are allowed across - have any of you? Would it be safe to say that the ban is off for everything or just cattle?

[farmers_son]

I do not know if I would go so far as to say the ban is off, if you are referring to live cattle. All bovine, sheep and goat imports to the United States are now subject to the import restrictions outlined in the USDA rule so it certainly is not business as usual. When we hear that the border is “open” it is only political spin. While live cattle imports will occur, they take place under rigid and oppressive import restrictions. The only ruminants that can enter the United States without restriction are deer, elk, and camelids such as llamas. While the border is open to those animals, such is not the case with live cattle.

All the cheering about the “opening” of the border overlooks the sad fact that since this rule was published in the Federal Register the United States now has their own BSE situation leaving me to speculate why Canadian producers continue to have to bear the cost of BSE in North America.

[farmers_son]

Silverback: See: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/bseesb/americ/imprestricte.shtml

Canada allows in U.S. live cattle of any age for immediate slaughter. Contrast that with the U.S. who continue to block our cows. Why are we not shipping cows into the U.S.? Last time I checked they had BSE too. Or have the Americans forgotten that already.

There is some talk that live cattle trade may resume as soon as today. We will have to wait to see the inevitable TV coverage proclaiming the border is open. The border is very far from open. No cow trade, restrictions on feeder calves that are nothing less than protectionist given the U.S. has BSE too, not to mention the ridiculous restrictions on slaughter cattle destined for U.S. packing plants.

The USDA rule was out of date before it even came into effect. Given that it is now recognized that the U.S. has a smilar level of BSE as Canada, i.e. both very minimal, there is simply no reason why the import restrictions that were put in place with the USDA rule continue to be there.

And R-Calf is continuing with the July 27 law suit for what good reason? The U.S. has BSE, get over it. Canada needs to start acting like the U.S. has BSE too instead of going around cap in hand being grateful for the crumbs they have thrown us.

[cakadu]

Heard on the news at noon that the first shipment of live cattle has crossed the border into the US. The shipment originated in Ontario and crossed over at a point there.

Things are at least beginning to move. How does the trucking situation look here in Alberta? Will there be as much trouble as they are intimating with getting trucks or more importantly, truck drivers?

[pandiana]

http://www.wvmcattle.com/
"The border is now open to cattle and bison less than 30 months of age and goats and sheep less than 12 months for immediate slaughter and feeding, as well as a broader range of meat products. The U.S. rule also removes all BSE-related import restrictions for elk, deer, llamas and alpacas."

I understand that bone-in meat will also be accepted.

Animals will still need "shipments certified by a CFIA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the CFIA."

"Under the U.S. rule, Canadian slaughter and processing facilities that also process cattle over thiry months of age will be able to retain their export elibility as long as specific segregations procedures are in place. This may increase Canada's capacity to slaughter older animals since establishments wishing to export to the U.S. were previously not allowed to handle animals over thirty months or related products."

[farmers_son]

That first truck going across the border certainly is good news. A whole bunch better news than finding another BSE positive which seemed to the only news for a while back in January.

I think Canadian producers will certainly watch the July 27 hearing with interest. At least it not a foregone conclusion any more.

I think from a Canadian producer standpoint it is important to avoid the spin "border open to cattle". While the border is open to deer, elk, llamas and alpacas we need to remember that Canadian live cattle can only enter the United States through a very restrictive and expensive process in what amounts to a unjustified non-tariff barrier. And we can not forget that live cattle over 30 months of age continue to be unfairly blocked from U.S. markets.

We are a long, long way from seeing fair trade return to the cattle industry. Canadian producers are continuing to pay the entire financial price for BSE in North America and is anyone doing anything about it? When you realize cows in the U.S. bring 60 cents American and cows in Canada bring 17 cents Canadian you can see firsthand that the border is not open yet.

Even before the U.S. found its domestic case of BSE there was no scientific basis for the restrictions on movement of live cattle to the U.S. Remember June 10, 2005? That is the day the Americans announced that they has a positive result using the Western Blot test on a Brahma cow killed in Texas last November. There is no reason whatsoever that any restrictions on live cattle trade should have remained in effect after June 10, 2005 just like there are no restrictions on deer, elk and llamas now. We are celebrating an empty victory that only serves to disguise what is nothing less than ongoing open, blatant and unfair protectionism by the Americans.

See the link below to remind yourself just what the USDA is all about: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/5/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2004%2F11%2F0508.xml& PC_7_2_5JM_navtype=RT&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_ RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE#7_2_5JM

[grassfarmer]

I agree with you f_s that we are now getting a very poor deal on the OTM cattle. When we first had a BSE case I thought it would probably be 7 years before we exported OTM cattle again but with the US finally admitting to having BSE that should be a level playing field. This is the point that the Canadian Government should develop a backbone and stand up and say "we insist that you now allow trading of OTM beef and cattle as our BSE status is the same" Seems both the Government and industry groups are content for Canadian producers to be allowed to crawl back to the their lowly place in the supply chain and that we definately shouldn't upset the Americans who are being really generous to us.

[rkaiser]

Am I dreaming, or did the new rule that was blocked and now overturned not include Boxed OTM beef?

In other words, did the new rule not allow boxed OTM beef and UTM live cattle for slaughter?

[farmers_son]

Rkaiser, you were not dreaming. The final rule as announced in December 2004 did include a provision to ship OTM beef into the U.S. That provision was removed with this announcement in February 2005. The excuse was the two Canadian BSE positives last January. However others point out that the real reason was the rule as proposed would have given Canadian packers an advantage by allowing them to sell OTM beef into the U.S. The rule was quickly changed to take that advantage away. Of course the investigation mentioned was long ago completed and now the U.S. has BSE too but still no OTM beef, much less live cows are entering the U.S. across that “open” border.


Release No. 0047.05

Statement By Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns

February 9, 2005

"On Dec. 29, 2004, USDA released a final rule that establishes criteria for geographic regions to be recognized as presenting minimal risk of introducing BSE into the United States. It places Canada in the minimal-risk category, and defines the requirements that must be met for the import of certain ruminants and ruminant products from Canada. A minimal-risk region can include a region in which BSE-infected animals have been diagnosed, but where sufficient risk-mitigation measures have been put in place to make the introduction of BSE into the United States unlikely.

"Our ongoing investigations into the recent finds of BSE in Canada in animals over 30 months are not complete. Therefore, I feel it is prudent to delay the effective date for allowing imports of meat from animals 30 months and over.

"This action also addresses concerns over the portion of the minimal-risk rule that would reopen the Canadian border for beef from animals 30 months and over, while keeping it closed for imports of older live cattle for processing in the United States. Some have suggested that this part of the rule does not reflect the evidence that beef from animals 30 months and over processed in Canada has the same risk profile as beef from Canadian animals 30 months and over processed in the United States.

"At the same time, I am asking U.S. officials to move forward in consideration and development of a plan to allow imports of animals 30 months and older for slaughter as well as beef from over 30-month animals as the next step in resuming full trade with Canada. As always, decisions will be made based on the latest scientific information and with the protection of public and animal health the highest priority.

"We remain very confident that the combination of the rule's requirements, in addition to the animal and public health measures that Canada has in place to prevent the spread of BSE, along with the extensive U.S. regulatory food-safety and animal-health systems, provide the protection to U.S. consumers and livestock. The removal of Specified Risk Materials is the most effective barrier to protect consumers, and therefore the rest of the rule will proceed as announced."