Archive for December, 2008
New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association meeting update
New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association meeting update and call for comments on Beef Checkoff Modernization Act.
First and foremost, I want to thank the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association for the allowing me to attend its annual convention. The meeting went very well, and I learned a lot about the issues affecting New Mexico ranchers.
I spoke to the NMCGA’s marketing committee about the Beef Checkoff Modernization Act as well as Canada’s WTO dispute case against the U.S. COOL law. We had some excellent discussion and the input gathered from this committee meeting will be very useful in the New Year.
You will notice the pictures of how the “Majestic Wolves” are decimating animals that mean a great deal to our livelihoods. I heard about the problems stemming from New Mexico’s increased wolf population. I even heard a story about kids waiting for the school bus in cages that protect them from roaming wolf packs. Fellow countrymen, whether you are a rancher or live in the city, you understand there is a big problem with excessive wolf numbers out west. If it was your son or daughter waiting in a cage for the school bus in the Washington DC suburbs, no doubt you’d realize that limits should be placed on predator wildlife.
Also, I am in the process of gathering all the comments I can on the Beef Checkoff Modernization Act. If you have suggestions on the Checkoff bill, please email or call me directly with your thoughts. The bill’s language can be found by searching Thomas for the Beef Checkoff Modernization Act or S 3404 IS at http://thomas.loc.gov/.
And last but not least, I was able to meet legendary western cowboy artist Tim Cox! Check out his art at https://www.timcox.com:4443/index.html.
Some of the things I really like…
about Washington D.C! Here’s one: I don’t have any newspaper subscriptions, but every day, I get the following papers for FREE!
Politico at http://www.politico.com
The Hill at http://thehill.com
DC Examiner at http://www.dcexaminer.com
The Washington Post Express at http://www.washingtonpost.com
I find all of them at the Foggy Bottom Subway Station, and I usually pick them up when I am done playing basketball and working out and am headed over to the Western Skies Strategies offices.
Free stuff makes it seem like every day is my birthday!
‘Course after I played my hoops today and grabbed my free papers, I had just enough time to finish last minute projects and get on the road to the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association Annual Convention!
My flight went well; it was the first time I flew Southwest Airlines. It was a bit tight getting from Washington D.C. Union Station to Baltimore’ s Airport (BWI). I took the MARC train and of course pushed the schedule right up until the last minute. But I made the train, made the plane, and made it to Albuquerque! I am looking forward to spending time with Caren Cowan, Bill Sauble, and all the good folks with the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association!
Happy birthday, Jess!
Today is Jess’s birthday. While most people might take some time off, maybe eat a steak dinner with their friends, catch a movie, Jess is not “most people.” Instead, Jess is on a plane to New Mexico to speak at the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association Convention on Friday.
And with an introduction like this (see below), who can blame him? And don’t worry about him for a second, he’s having a blast. Happy birthday, Jess.
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Email Blast From: Caren Cowan
Sent: Dec 10, 2008 5:19 PM
Subject: What’s the latest with COOL?
Come to the Joint Stockmen’s Convention and find out! Jess Peterson who owns the Washington D.C. lobbying firm Western Strategies will be providing the most up to date information available during the Joint Stockmen’s Promotion & Marketing Committee at 3:00 pm on Friday, December 12. He will also have information on the WTO litigation and the US Senate bill aimed at reforming the beef checkoff.
Come on… there’s still room for you!
Caren Cowan
Executive Director
New Mexico Cattle Growers Association
Mailing address: POB 7517 / Albuquerque NM 87194
Physical address: 2231 Rio Grande Blvd NW / Albuquerque NM 87104
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USCA annual membership meeting a success
The following press release from the conference provides a great summary of USCA’s accomplishments.
UNITED STATES CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 339 – San Lucas, CA 93954
Email: usca@uscattlemen.org Web Site: www.uscattlemen.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2008
Contact: Jon Wooster 831/385-5316 or Jess Peterson 202/870-3867
U.S. Cattlemen to Provide Vigorous Defense for COOL at WTO. Members gather in Las Vegas on December 5 for Annual Meeting…
USCA (December 9, 2008) – Cattle producers from nine states gathered at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV on December 5 for the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association’s (USCA) annual membership meeting. The event was held in conjunction with the PRCA National Finals Rodeo.
Attendees received an in-depth Capitol Hill update from Jess Peterson, USCA Executive Vice-President. Peterson’s presentation included a review of ongoing issues like country of origin labeling, Argentina’s push for beef and cattle import expansion, beef checkoff reform, marketplace competition, international trade agreements and animal health issues. Peterson also provided an overview of the new administration and the issues that will come before the 111th session of Congress.
“Tremendous policy opportunities lie ahead for U.S. cattle producers,” noted Peterson. “A friendly Congress and a new administration mean we must be engaged in the policy process at every level. USCA has remarkable respect and access on Capitol Hill. As President-Elect Obama puts his Cabinet in place and new agency heads are appointed, USCA will be on the cutting edge of policy discussions.”
USCA members in Las Vegas also heard from U.S. Department of Agriculture officials on the Canadian filings before the World Trade Organization on country of origin labeling.
“Information shows that the Canadian government has filed documents with the WTO requesting consultations with the United States over country of origin labeling,” noted Peterson. “The time period to complete the consultations under the WTO is short. A response from the U.S. to the Canadian complaint is due by mid-December and we expect the consultations to commence shortly thereafter. USCA members made clear their intent to provide a vigorous defense of the labeling law throughout the process. We are exploring the options available to us and producers can rest assured that USCA will be taking the lead on this issue.”
USCA was founded on a one-member, one vote policy with a provision that allows all members to vote on policy resolutions by mail-in ballot.
Members at the annual meeting affirmed several policy resolutions passed by the USCA board of directors earlier this year, including a resolution on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
Doug Zalesky, USCA Region IV Director and Trade Committee Chairman presented a resolution opposing the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. “This trade agreement fails to provide phytosanitary safeguards to protect the U.S. cattle herd, and it also fails to contain rules for perishable and cyclical agriculture products,” explained Zalesky. “There is no snap back provision that would curtail imports of cattle and beef if or when U.S. feeder cattle drop below the cost of production, and it fails to prohibit the transshipment of cattle. From cattle producers’ perspective, this is a very poor trade agreement that fails every litmus test.”
The resolution opposing the Colombia Free Trade Agreement passed unanimously and will now be sent as a ballot issue to USCA members.
A resolution calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately reject the pending regionalized beef trade plan with Argentina also passed unanimously.
“There is no question that the economic consequences of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the U.S. would be catastrophic,” stated Zalesky. “Argentina has a documented problem with foot and mouth disease. The infectious animal disease risks associated with expanding beef and cattle trade with Argentina under USDA’s regionalized plan are unacceptable to U.S. producers. Foot and mouth disease is highly infectious, particularly through airborne vectors. An outbreak in the U.S. would bring livestock commerce to an immediate halt and would more than likely result in the depopulation of thousands of head of livestock. If USDA fails to withdraw this flawed proposal, then USCA will call on Congress to block the rule.”
Argentina has defaulted on millions of dollars in loans made by U.S. companies, which is, in effect, an indirect subsidy for Argentine cattle producers. Argentina has opposed U.S. producers in international trade issues under the WTO.
Established in March 2007, USCA is committed to concentrating its efforts in Washington, DC to enhance and expand the cattle industry’s voice on Capitol Hill. USCA has a full-time presence in Washington, giving cattle producers across the country a strong influence on policy development. For more information go to www.uscattlemen.org.
U.S. Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting preview
This weekend will find cattle producers from across the country meeting and developing the policies that will ensure the success and profitability of the U.S. cattle industry for the next 100 years. Not a small chore, clearly, but the participants who show up for this event wouldn’t have it any other way. These USCA members know that it takes a small group of people working hard to ensure that the larger group and industry are well represented.
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