USDA’s NAIS decision called “rare victory”

There are more positive reactions to last week’s announcement by USDA to pull back and regroup on its National Animal Identification System, NAIS. A farm policy research analyst says the USDA’s announcement that the NAIS will be replaced is a “victory of the nation’s family farmers over the political power of corporate agribusiness” that’s all too rare. Cornucopia Institute senior farm policy analyst Mark Kastel (in Wisconsin) says in this case, Secretary Vilsack “definitely listened to the will of the people.” He commends the secretary for addressing a variety of issues and says he’s proven himself to be a “a savvy and pragmatic political leader.”

Judith McGeary, executive director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance says they applaud Vilsack for listening to their concerns and deciding to “abandon the NAIS.” She says her group will urge the Secretary to involve a broad range of groups and people as it moves forward with developing a new framework for traceability.

The USDA’s new approach replaces NAIS with a focus on states and tribes setting up requirements for animal traceability for interstate commerce.

The Missouri Rural Crisis Center commends USDA for canceling the National Animal Identification System. Crisis center director Rhonda Perry says the decision to scrap the program is “a direct result of grassroots opposition by producers and concerned consumers across the country.” Perry says they knew all along that NAIS “was created by industrial livestock and meatpacking interests to shift the burden of animal disease and food safety onto the backs of family farmers.” Fifty-four of the 55 Missourians who testified during the USDA’s listening session in Jefferson City last year went on record opposed to NAIS.

Perry says the MRCC is grateful to Secretary Vilsack for listening and taking action and to Senator Claire McCaskill “for standing in opposition to NAIS” as the Senator urged Vilsack to hold a listening session in Missouri and expressed to him her concerns about the USDA’s proposed rule to fully implement NAIS.

Perry, a livestock and grain farmer in Howard County, Missouri, says it’s her group’s hope that moving forward the USDA will continue to consult with independent farmers.

Midday cash livestock markets

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade opened .54 lower at 63.30 on a carcass basis, the West was /88 lower also 63.20, the East was down .53 at 61.25. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is 3.00 to 4.00 higher from 58.00 to 62.00. The cash hog trade was predicted to open firmer due to relatively short bought packers and ideas of stabilizing pork carcass value. Last week’s product trade was extremely volatile, and it will be very critical to see who wins the tug of war, according to DTN’s John Harrington. Mid-winter numbers are about as tight as they are going to get with the country offerings set to increase in the March/April time frame.

Inspired by greater country spending last week, cattle feedlot managers will start out pricing new show lists several dollars higher. Processing margins are on the defensive and cattle buyers will be very reluctant to chase the cash trade higher unless they can get substantial help from the wholesale market. Boxed beef cutout values are higher at midday, choice beef is up .58 at 138.48, and select is up .91 at 136.37.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Ericson/Spalding Livestock Auction, Ericson, NE totaled 4850 head. Compared to last week steers trended steady, and heifers were steady to 3.00 lower to as much as 6.00 lower for 660 to 680 pound offerings. Demand was good and trade was active despite icy and cold weather conditions. Feeder steers medium and large 1 weighing 726 pounds averaged 101.88, 617 pound heifers brought 98.77 per hundredweight.

Groups oppose ‘animal protection liaison’ idea

A number of livestock and other groups have sent a letter to President Obama urging him not to appoint an “animal protection liaison” in the White House.

The concept has been proposed by the Humane Society of the United States. 

Among those signing the letter—the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Pork Producers Council and United Egg Producers.

The vice president for government affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Colin Woodall says HSUS already has a lot of access in both the Obama administration and in Congress.

“That’s what concerns us, because they truly are out to end animal agriculture,” Woodall says. “You know, they don’t talk about that publicly as much as they used to—but it’s still their ultimate goal.”

Woodall says HSUS has scaled back on legislative initiatives in Congress while it focuses on state-by-state ballot initiatives—which he thinks is part of their overall strategy.

“They know if they can get out there and win things like Proposition 2 did in California—and what they’re trying to do in Ohio right now,” Woodall explains, “if they can get to a point where they have a critical mass of states that have passed ballot initiatives, then they’ll be able to take that back to Washington and tell Congress ‘hey look, you no longer have any excuse not to move forward with our agenda because the states have already told you how they feel’.”

Woodall visited with Brownfield at the recent cattlemen’s conference in San Antonio.

South Dakota officials to review animal care laws

A group of South Dakota farm and livestock representatives, along with South Dakota’s state veterinarian, will review state laws regarding livestock and work animals this year.

Officials say the laws were last reviewed in 1991.  They point out that, since then, most farm and livestock organizations have adopted guidelines for the care and welfare of animals—and public perceptions about animal welfare have changed. 

Among topics to be considered will be confinement housing and practices such as castration, tail docking, beak trimming and dehorning.  Revisions will be submitted to the state legislature next year.

Groups involved in the project include the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, Pork Producers Council, Association of Cooperatives, and state Farm Bureau.

NCBA meets with sponsor of antibiotics bill

NCBA officials have met with New York congresswoman Louise Slaughter, sponsor of the House bill to ban the use of antibiotics in livestock.

They were joined by Kansas State University’s Michael Apley, a veterinary clinical pharmacologist.  Apley emphasized that animal antibiotics have passed a stringent FDA-approval process, which has demonstrated they are safe and effective.  And he said cattlemen and veterinarians must adhere to strict, science-based guidelines in using antibiotics.

Also participating in the meeting was Iowa congressman Leonard Boswell.  Boswell, who also has concerns with the legislation, was part of a recent congressional trip to Denmark to examine the impacts that their antibiotics ban had on the country’s swine population.  Boswell says Danish pork producers saw increased mortality and illness in their herds,  in addition to higher production costs, soon after the ban was put in place.  And he says many small Danish farmers who raised pigs went out of business after the ban.

Apley says he was encouraged by Slaughter’s willingness to discuss the issue.  He says she extended an offer to have NCBA involved in the discussions moving forward.

USDA announces replacement for NAIS

A new animal traceability system “framework” has been announced by USDA to replace the controversial National Animal Identification System, or NAIS. Dr. John Clifford is the chief veterinary officer for animal health for the Department of Agriculture and tells Brownfield the new system will deal only with interstate commerce of livestock – movement of animals from state to state. Clifford says, “We need capability to trace animals back to a state. So we’ll be working with the states as they identify the best way they want to accomplish that.”

Clifford says the new system will be more flexible and addresses many of the concerns – confidentiality, liability, cost and others – voiced at the USDA’s NAIS listening sessions last year, “We know there’ll still be concerns out there. But, it’s important for us to have animal traceability to protect the nation’s livestock population.”

Clifford says states and tribal nations will administer the program. USDA will have a rulemaking process and he says there will be plenty of opportunity for the public and livestock industry to comment.

AUDIO: Dr. John Clifford, Chief Veterinary Officer of Animal Services for USDA (9 min., MP3)

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

By Tom Steever:

USDA’s new flexible framework for animal disease traceability brought a reaction the agency is not accustomed to hearing from a frequent critic of NAIS.

“We feel very good about this,” R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard told Brownfield Friday. “This is a fundamental shift from the direction that USDA has been going for the last four years,” said Bullard.  “Much of the control will be vested in the states, [and] producers will have input in terms of developing the new disease traceability program.”

Bullard says R-CALF may have exerted some influence through the course of listening sessions held last year by USDA, but he says the group had help. “This is really an effort of cattle producers and other livestock producers across the country who stood up and said ‘no’ they were not willing to follow the USDA’s efforts to require a federal registry of livestock, to require producers to report to the federal government when livestock were moved, and importantly, to have a federal registry of every farm and ranch in this country,” Bullard said.

Bullard also expressed satisfaction that the Department is taking action to bolster protections against the entry and spread of disease.  “[USDA] recognized that they need to strengthen our import controls to prevent the introduction of diseases from foreign sources,” said Bullard.  “This is a key element of what R-CALF has been pushing for and we’re looking forward to a future announcement by USDA on exactly how they would do that.”

R-CALF is also pleased that the states have latitude in developing a system to meet federal standards but to still be consistent with practices in each particular state.  “USDA now recognizes that one size does not fit all,” said Bullard.  “That’s what we’ve been trying to emphasize for the past four years, and up until now it fell on deaf ears.”

AUDIO: Bill Bullard (5 min. MP3) 

By Julie Harker:

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill says she’s excited about the USDA’s plans to move away from the National Animal Identification System that was borne of the previous administration. McCaskill says, “This is the way government is supposed to work.”

The Democrat tells Brownfield she’s heard a lot of complaints from farmers and ranchers about NAIS, “As I was campaigning in rural Missouri I encountered so many producers that were so frustrated with the federal government not understanding that the National Animal ID system was expensive, it wasn’t necessary, it was invasive, it was really a dumb idea.”

She says the proposed new system will affect cattle moving between states, which she says makes more sense, “For many of the small producers that are just producing in-state and not shipping, it’s not even going to be focused on them. So, I think this is a situation where we’re taking this decision OUT of Washington, putting it on a state basis, keeping in mind that we can’t dictate ag policy because of a couple of huge producers want to have their way at the Department of Agriculture and that’s what was going on before.”

McCaskill, a former state auditor, says the previous administration wasted about 130-Million dollars on the “deeply flawed” NAIS. She says this new system makes much more sense.

AUDIO: Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), (4 min., MP3)

By Bob Meyer:

The American Veterinary Medical Association does not like the idea. AVMA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ron DeHaven says, “If each state is allowed to develop and implement its own program, important questions arise concerning communication and coordination. Clearly, the USDA must create a system that allows for quick and accurate trace-back across state borders in an animal disease emergency, or there is no point in the new system” DeHaven adds, “There are many unanswered questions that must be addressed as this new animal disease traceability program is being developed. For that reason, the AVMA cannot consider endorsing this concept at this time.”

AVMA president, Dr. Larry Corry says they support the creation of an animal disease traceability program and fear the creation of any such program will be delayed several years by the formal rule-making process this new system will require. “During that time, the U.S. will continue without an animal disease traceability program.”

American Veterinary Medical Association

By Ken Anderson:

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is pleased with the USDA’s new framework for animal disease traceability in the U.S.  NCBA president Steve Foglesong says the plan appears to lay the foundation for a flexible approach to traceability, including greater state involvement and more choices in the use of technology.

Foglesong says it’s important that the system is workable for producers—and that it accomplishes the goal of increased animal surveillance by enabling state and federal animal health officials to respond rapidly to animal health emergencies.  Foglesong says NCBA has, and continues, to support a voluntary, market-driven animal identification system as an important tool for producers to improve herds, monitor disease, and better market their cattle.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Midday cash livestock markets

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade opened .58 lower at 62.30, the West is 1.49 lower also at 62.30, and the East is .02 higher at 61.47. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 54.00 to 59.00. Country receipts remained limited on Thursday, leaving several plants needing live inventory for Friday and Saturday, as well as starters for next week. Market numbers seem snugger than expected, and it will be interesting to see if live supplies continue to track through the month of February. The Saturday kill is expected to be around 45,000 to 50,000 head.

Packer inquiry into the cattle is improving, following moderate movement in parts of the North on Thursday. Live sales in the North yesterday were .50 to 1.00 higher from 83.50 to 85.00, and dressed sales were steady to 1.00 higher from 135.00 to 137.00. A few live sales were reported in Nebraska today at 84.00. While we could see more trade in the North today some feedlot managers are saying they are willing to carry greener cattle over into next week. The South was quiet yesterday, and they seem in no hurry so far today, but they will have to do some business at some point today. Asking prices are around 87 plus in the South and bids are at 84.00 to 85.00, and in the North they are asking 138.00 plus. Choice boxed beef is 1.09 lower at 137.62, and select is down .62 at 135.48.

Receipts of feeder cattle at Missouri auctions this week totaled 29,551 head. Compared to last week, feeder steers trended steady to 4.00 higher, heifers were steady to 3.00 higher. Feeder steers medium and large 1 and 1-2 weighing 500 to 600 pounds traded from 93.50 to 124.00, 7 to 6 weights brought 84.50 to 104.50. 500 to 600 pound heifers traded from 80.00 to 106.50 and 7 to 8 weight heifers at 81.75 to 93.75 per hundredweight.

Veal Association adopts code of ethics, conduct

The American Veal Association adopted a statement of ethical principles and a code of conduct during its meeting last week in San Antonio. The group wants to clearly state the industry’s commitment to humane handling, ethical conduct and sustainable production methods.

“By adopting and embracing these principles, we can help our consumers and customers better understand our commitment to producing safe, nutritious food, protecting the environment, caring for our animals, providing a safe, rewarding work environment and contributing to our communities,” said AVA President Chip Lines-Burgess in a news release.

In May of 2007, the group adopted a resolution calling for all U.S. veal farms to transition from confinement housing to what it calls group housing systems by the end of 2017. The AVA estimates that today about one-third of veal calves are raised in group housing.

In a news release, the American Veal Association provided the language of the document adopted at last week’s meeting.

Ethical Standards and Code of Conduct for the US Veal Industry:

The U.S. veal industry recognizes that consumers and customers expect our practices and products to reflect our obligation to produce safe food in a responsible manner consistent with the values of our customers and consumers. To foster more confidence in our practices and promote a better understanding of our guiding principles, we affirm the following ethical standards and code of conduct for those involved in the US veal industry:

• Food Safety: Producing safe and nutritious food is our first responsibility

Veal Producers are expected to:

• Adopt on farm and management practices consistent with producing safe food

• Adopt animal care practices consistent with producing safe food

• Use animal health products judiciously

• Continually review practices for improvements that protect food safety

• Animal Care: We have an ethical obligation to provide appropriate care for our animals at every stage of life

Veal Producers are expected to:

• Safeguard and promote the health and well-being of animals in their care

• Provide appropriate water, food, shelter, handling and transportation at all times

• Respect the special considerations and needs of young calves

• Provide appropriate veterinary care at all stages of life, and when necessary timely euthanasia.

• Environment: We have an obligation to protect the air, land and water on which we all depend

Veal Producers are expected to:

• Conserve and manage manure and other nutrients as a resource

• Assure that production and other management practices protect our natural resources including land, air and water.

• Continually review environmental management activities for improvement and sustainability

• Employees: We have an ethical responsibility to provide a safe, healthy and rewarding work environment for our employees

Veal Producers are expected to:

• Treat every employee with dignity and respect

• Provide proper education and training in all areas of farm management and animal care

• Promote a safe and healthy work environment

• Promote understanding of and adherence to veal industry ethical principles

• Community: We have a duty to promote a quality way of life in the communities where we live and work

Veal Producers are expected to:

• Actively participate in activities that strengthen the community

• Engage neighbors and the community in an open and honest manner

• Resolve to listen to and address reasonable community concerns

• Seek to leave the community and natural resources in a better condition for future generations

Beef from Missouri plant recalled

A Rockville, Missouri, packing plant is recalling about 14,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The USDA says the problem was discovered at West Missouri Beef, LLC, during a Food Safety and Inspection Service verification review at the plant.

The recalled beef was distributed to wholesalers in the Chicago area and there are no reports of illness from the recalled meat. That strain of E. coli, however, can cause harm, especially among youngsters, seniors and people with weak immune systems.

The beef was produced from late October to mid-January and is in containers marked “EST. 5821.”

The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to 160 degrees to kill harmful bacteria.

RFS2 gives more credit to distillers grains

One of the positive aspects of the EPA’s RFS2 announcement this week was the increased credit given to distillers grains.  That according to the Nebraska Corn Board. 

EPA noted that new research available since the initial RFS2 proposal indicates that distillers grains is more efficient as an animal feed than what it had originally assumed.  That means less corn is needed for animal feed—which, in turn, means that domestic corn demand and exports are not impacted as much by increased biofuel production as previously thought. 

But despite that positive news, the Corn Board still has concerns with the RFS2 rule, especially what it calls “the shaky science” of international indirect land use change.  The board points out that with the land use change theory included, EPA estimated that corn-based ethanol reduces greenhouse gases 21 percent over gasoline. Without that penalty, corn ethanol would achieve a 52 percent reduction rating. 

The Corn Board also renewed its call for approval of E15 and putting more flex fuel vehicles on the road.

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