U.S. to Open Border to All Cnd. Cattle

[farmers_son]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051116/mad_cow_restriction_051116/20051116?hub=TopStories

The U.S. Agriculture Department announced on Wednesday the Bush administration's intention to lift all mad cow disease-related restrictions on Canadian cattle by mid-2006.

Ron DeHaven, administrator of the department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told The Associated Press that a rule is currently being written that will be proposed in six to eight months.

The United States first closed its borders to Canadian beef in 2003 after mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, were discovered in an Alberta cow.

Since the ban was first implemented, Canada has discovered another two cases of mad cow disease.

The restrictions were eased earlier this year to allow younger cattle to enter the United States, as they are less at risk of becoming infected.

Canadian cattle producers have exported more than 333,803 cattle under 30 months of age to the United States since the ban was eased on July 18.

[JD4ME]

I was grumbling to myself just today that it was awfully quiet on the mature animal and heifer front, the culls are under pressure pretty good right now and this is positive news, tommorrow would be better but still. However I will remain cautiously optimistic until the time comes as I'm sure mycalf will expend some more money on their lawyers retirement fund.

[PureCountry]

Oh HOOORRAAAYYY!!!!! Mid-2006??!!? Really??!!? That's a relief! Now I'll only have to watch friends, family and neighbours go t!t$ up for another 7 months! Right on!

Or maybe we'll only have to read a few thousand more ads and articles about herd dispersals, farm auctions, or how many calls the Farmer's Stress/Depression Hotline is getting.

After all the 'effort' put forth by everyone from the federal gov't to the 'representatives' in our ag. organizations, I personally think mid-2006 should be viewed as nothing but a failure. It should have been mid-2003, then mid-2004, maybe mid-2005; but MID-2006??! What a crock! Anyone interested in Western Separation yet? It may be the only way to take back control of our own futures and our kids, too.

[silverback]

You are right, it is a failure.

Instead of everyone saying what a great thing this is, I think we should be embarassed that All of our animals for slaughter are not leaving our borders in boxes instead of liners by now.

Will we be going through the same thing someday?

[cowman]

Well at least we have a tentative date? Which is more than we had yesterday?
333,000 calves and fats have crossed this past year, how many more would have if they didn't have these tough restrictions on heifers?
I suspect this announcement will have a pretty profound effect on the bred cow sales this fall? By the time that cow has raised next years calf she will have a greatly increased salvage value? If you wanted to expand you might be too late?
I think the USDA has been trying to get this thing going but R-CALF was always there stopping things? They really had no choice?
I don't think we got a very good effort from our federal government but then again I guess their hands were tied too?
I think we should look upon this announcement as a positive thing, not a negative thing?

[smcgrath76]

It will remain to be seen if the border will actually open. In any case, I can see people taking the opportunity to exit the industry if cull cow prices rise in the interim.
Positive - hopefully a rise in cull cow price and cash flow
Negative - I am with Farmer's Son on this one. I think it could kill a lot of the drive behind producer owned plants.

[PureCountry]

What could the federal gov't do? Their hands were tied? If their hands can't get it done, who in the Hell are we supposed to look to?

Long live separation - again!!

[mb_rancher]

AS to the effect on bred prices cowman, I think you better slow down and take a look at things. Right now there is a huge amount of herd dispersals and everyone is a bit reluctant to jump in head over heels into something that is still not back to the way it was pre bse. Take a good look at things before you start saying that prices are going up.

[Horse]

Bred cows are still to high unless you have a good income or are just wanting to show you own cows .
When you pencil in all the costs I think one would have to have more cows than any man can look after to make a living $600 is a prety fair average on a calf crop and if cows exposed as compared to calves weaned I think $600 would be high espicaly with hfrs back 12/15 Cents, but as always people dont tell the whole truth when reveling what they recieved for thier calves like leaving some small or dogs at home .

[cowman]

Well I guess we will see if bred cow prices are on the way up fairly soon as the cow sales are just starting?
The USDA has said they have a date in mind, probably the spring of 2006? If that happens then I would guess cull cow prices will rise fairly rapidly?
It is always a gamble to step up to the plate and lay your money down, but someone is always ready and willing! Someone is buying these cows.
Considering the poor prospects for grain farming or hay, I would think the cow business looks pretty good right now?

[mb_rancher]

I dont know about out there but the sales I have been to around here, MOst of the cows have been bringing slaughter price and are headed for the rail. We have bought quite a few good ranch dispersal cows for $500.

[PureCountry]

120 black angus cross cows went as a herd dispersal at Provost the other day for a $500 average. There were some bred heifers that went for $1000-1100, fancier Angus/Semmis, but good black ranch cows in good shape, bred for Feb. calving @ $500!??!!
I hate to wear the negative cap on this one, but I've heard of alot more sales like this than I have good ones.

[Willowcreek]

I wouldn't bet the farm on a 2006 date-even 2007.....Unless the USDA has a positive way to prove age and identify cattle to guarantee they were born post feed-ban, I don't think they will be able to get enough support to back them...It won't only be R-CALF, but every cattle, Ag, and consumer organization in the US fighting it...Even many NCBA members are opposed to allowing in OTM's (altho their official position will probably be decided by what the packers want)...

Personally I would say to make it mandatory that all beef be labeled as to the country of origin- then leave the decision to the consumer and open it up...Until then I will oppose it...

[Willowcreek]

R-CALF: U.S. producers disagree on USDA's Canadian cattle plans
By R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America
Nov 18, 2005, 01:05
Foodconsumer.org




U.S. Cattle Producers Disagree with USDA Plans to Allow into the U.S. Older Canadian Cattle, Beef Products

Billings, Mont., Nov 17 - On Wednesday Ron DeHaven, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), announced the agency plans to revise its bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) restrictions. Under this new proposal, Canadian cattle over 30 months of age would be allowed into the U.S. by mid-2006. R-CALF USA President-Elect Chuck Kiker made the following statement in reaction to this announcement:

"USDA's plan to lift U.S. import restrictions that would allow Canadian over-thirty-month (OTM) cattle into the U.S. by mid-2006 shows the agency is continuing its push to give market access to our competitors before we regain our lost export markets abroad. In addition, DeHaven's comments show USDA is ignoring the increased risk these older Canadian cattle pose to the U.S. cattle herd and to U.S. consumers, which is particularly disconcerting because USDA scientists have determined these older Canadian cattle to be of higher risk.

"R-CALF is concerned with the BSE prevalence rate in Canada (4 cases) in relation to that of the United States (1 case). While we praise USDA for its efforts to reopen our beef export markets, its work toward reopening the Japanese market is concentrated around animals 21 months of age and younger. On the other hand, this latest proposal by USDA will allow into the U.S. foreign cattle 30 months of age and older, and the associated beef products from those animals.

"At some point, all countries that import and export cattle and beef products must reach agreement on the highest standards of rules for global beef trade.

"Any effort by the agency to move ahead with these plans not only will increase the financial risks to U.S. cattle producers, but also potentially expose the U.S. to an increased risk of importing BSE into the United States.

"R-CALF's original case against USDA (filed in January 2005), in our efforts to force the agency to withdraw its Final Rule that allowed into the U.S. younger Canadian cattle, has not yet been resolved. R-CALF is continuing, in federal court, efforts to strengthen our BSE protections, and how our case is resolved will decide whether or not USDA can go forward with a new rule for older cattle. If this case is settled in R-CALF's favor, it obviously would preempt any attempt by USDA to write another rule for older animals.

"R-CALF was granted a preliminary injunction on March 2 that stopped USDA's rule from taking effect on March 7, as the agency had planned, but was overturned on USDA's appeal in July. Canadian cattle younger than 30 months of age began entering the U.S. on July 18.

"We are still drafting a petition for a court hearing on a permanent ban against Canadian slaughter and feeder cattle. All of the scientific arguments that we used to win the preliminary injunction are even stronger against allowing OTM cattle into the U.S., and even USDA scientists have repeatedly made clear the risk of importing older Canadian cattle into the United States.

"It's important that beef consumers understand this proposal by USDA makes it more critical than ever to implement Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling at once so consumers can make informed decisions when choosing between USA Beef or foreign beef products for their families."

# # #

[mb_rancher]

"R-CALF is concerned with the BSE prevalence rate in Canada (4 cases) in relation to that of the United States (1 case).

OT- I see R-laugh is up to its old tricks again. Lieing its way a long the mighty trail of BS. Since when did the US just have 1 case of BSE? The first one was found on US soil NOT CANADIAN soil Remember? And no matter what you say or what R-laugh says you cant prove she wasnt infected in the US. ANd as I always say "how many US cases have been lost in a paper shuffle?