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

[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?

[Willowcreek]

Remember 2006 is an election year in the US with many important midterm elections- And some of the pro big business- pro world trade advocate Congressmen are riding on shakey ground with the changing nationwide tide of the voters... backlash against the trade deficit, rising inflation, and the profiteering of Big Business, like the oil companies... Then take in to effect that the US Senate already voted against the USDA's previous plan to open to OTM beef or cattle....And I've seen nothing new in the science of BSE since that vote....

Also many more scientific questions concerned with the OTM's-especially the pre feedban ones, that still exist and haven't been answered...Much will depend on what USDA's proposal is as to whether its beef or live cattle- and how they propose to segregate out pre-feedban cattle--but I'm sure it will be challenged...The U.S. feedban safeguards are not strict enough to allow importing live cattle from a country with a higher percentage rate of BSE......Remember the USDA scientists testified to Congress that the U.S. #1 safeguard against BSE was/is the restrictions we have on importing from BSE countries......

This along with more cattle producers daily realizing that R-CALF was right about how much the Canadian cow market influences the US cull prices... Lots of people getting used to selling their culls for $700-800 and don't want to go right back to the pre-BSE days of $300-400...

Not a betting man MR, but I don't think you will see live cattle in 2006.....

[kato]

I'm not betting on it either.

It won't be opened without a fight. R-Calf has tunnel vision regarding Canadian cattle, and for as long as the organization is in existence, it will continue to grasp at reasons to close the border. If it wasn't BSE, it would be something else. This is what they were set up to do, and need us to justify their anti-trade agenda.

One way trade is the only acceptable kind of trade to these people, and we may as well get used to it.

After the border is opened, they'll sit down, have a meeting, and come up with some new way to make things miserable for the Canadian cattle producers.

I hate to be pessimistic, but I'm afraid this is not going to be easy.

[mb_rancher]

I would like to see the border open to OTM cattle but I would like to our slaughter capacity for OTM grow here in Canada. Be better to send you a boxed beef product than a live animal.

[Willowcreek]

Today 11/18/2005 7:08:00 PM


NCBA Statement On Cattle Trade With Canada



“Yesterday, NCBA ‘s animal health scientist Dr. Gary Weber joined me in representing U.S. cattlemen at a meeting in Canada to continue pushing for science-based resolution of all animal health issues between the two countries. The meeting included leading officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.



“NCBA and its state affiliates have been frustrated by the lack of access to the Canadian market for U.S. feeder and breeding cattle. While progress has been made to open the Canadian border to the movement of feeder cattle year-round, significant barriers still exist to the movement of breeding cattle.



“That said, progress was made at this week’s meeting. We expect resolution on Canada’s restrictions on bluetongue for all classes of U.S. cattle to end by mid-2006, after completion of an ongoing risk assessment project. On anaplasmosis, NCBA and APHIS made clear at the meeting the United States’ expectation is that any risk mitigation measures are science-based and allow for expanded cattle trade into Canada.



“NCBA will not support advancing resumption of trade with Canada on cattle over 30 months until science-based harmonization is achieved on all animal health issues. There has been discussion about such a rule in media reports this week despite the fact that a proposed rule has not been introduced by USDA. As with every rule-making process, there will be an opportunity for comment. When such a proposal is published, NCBA will maintain the need for harmonization to ensure fair trade between the two countries.



“NCBA’s commitment to free trade is well-documented, and we speak with great credibility on this issue. Normalization of trade is our goal, but normalization is a two-way street and can only be achieved if trade provisions are equitable.



“NCBA will continue to encourage the USDA to make science-based decisions relative to trade of beef and cattle. NCBA will never favor any change in trade policy that threatens our herd health or the safety of our food supply. We do not feel that Canadian cattle pose any such threat, and it is irresponsible to suggest otherwise. However, Canada’s restrictions on U.S. breeding stock and feeder cattle - especially those related to anaplasmosis and bluetongue – have placed undue hardship on America’s cattle producers for too long. NCBA will continue to be at the table to fight for equitable trade for U.S. cattlemen.



“Earlier this year, NCBA was instrumental in convincing USDA to limit both live cattle and boxed beef imports from Canada to 30 months of age and younger. Our producer-members adopted this policy based on sound science and in the interest of fair trade.”

[farmers_son]

In Canada, we have learned that the U.S. pursues policies regarding the importation of beef and live cattle that are based on what is in the best interest of the United States rather than any particular interpretation of science. The reality is if science ruled the day the border would have been open in 2003.

As such if we are trying to hazard a guess as to when the border really might open to OTM we need to consider the question in terms of what is best for the U.S. and leave out the question of science as science, especially the science of BSE, is open to interpretation by all beef trading countries.

So what is in the United States’ best interest? I think it is in the best interest of the United States to see OTM trade resume with Canada within 6 months of trade resuming with Japan. It is not in the best interest of the United States to see Canada develop an independent packing plant industry that would be able to offer genuine competition to American packers. It is in the best interest of the United States to see our live cattle flow into the U.S. so that the resulting value adding can occur on their side of the border. It is in the best interest of the United States to advocate an on again, off again North American beef market that keeps politically influential Canadian cattle producers dancing to the tune of the U.S. government.

R-Calf is just a tool. So are the U.S. courts. And for that matter BSE testing, at least in the United States, is being used as a political tool instead of an objective measure of the incidence of BSE in the United States.

The border will open when it darn well suits the United States of America. Not one day sooner but not one day later. No matter what R-Calf says. When the United States have gotten everything they need, when they have sucked the heart out of the Canadian cattle producer, when they have taught those pesky Canadians who were getting notions they were a sovereign independent country a lesson on international relations, then and only then the border will open wide.

However Canadian cattle producers would be wise to look a little further ahead, beyond the day when the border might be opened by the Americans, whether that day comes sometime in 2006 or not.

Canadian cattle producers need to look even beyond that date to another date. The day when the border is going to be closed the next time. Because sure as the sun comes up that border will close again. The real question is will we be prepared when that happens or will we just take it like we did this last time.

At some point we need to do what is in our best interest instead of what is the U.S. best interest.