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‘King amendment’ is part of House bill

May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Farm Bill passed Wednesday night by the House Ag Committee includes the “Protect Interstate Commerce Act”, which would bar states from imposing their own animal-welfare standards on eggs, meat and other ag products brought in from other states.

The amendment is aimed at preventing farmers in other states from having to comply with measures such as California’s Prop 2 initiative that requires farms to provide more space to hens, hogs and other livestock. 

The amendment was introduced by Iowa Representative Steve King.

“I’m fine if California wants to say ‘if you’re going to bring an egg in here, it has to be egg-shaped—and if you want to bring some beef in here, it needs to be produced with the idea of the regulations of the USDA in mind’,” King said.  “But I’m not fine if California—and it isn’t just California, it’s other states–it’s a patchwork quilt of these issues and we need to draw the line now while we still can.”

California Representative Jim Costa objected to the amendment.

“Congress does not have the authority to regulate interstate commerce in a way that strips states—I believe—of their sovereign state authority,” Costa said. “In effect, it’s a federal takeover of a long-standing state’s internal legislative authority.”

The president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle, warns that the King amendment could essentially “nullify” California’s Prop 2 and all state and local laws designed to protect farm animals.

AUDIO: Excerpts from House Ag Comm debate on King amendment (14:38 MP3)

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‘King amendment’ gains approval from House Ag Committee

May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

In Wednesday’s House Ag Committee Farm Bill markup session, Iowa Representative Steve King was successful in attaching his “Protect Interstate Commerce Act”, which would bar states from imposing their own animal-welfare standards on eggs, meat and other ag products brought in from other states.

The amendment is aimed at preventing farmers in other states from having to comply with measures such as California’s Prop 2 initiative that requires farms to provide more space to hens, hogs and other livestock.

Here are some excerpts from the debate that took place Wednesday evening.  Speakers include King, Rep. Jeff Denham of California, Rep. Jim Costa of California, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, as well as committee chair Frank Lucas.

AUDIO: Excerpts from House Ag Comm debate on King amendment (14:38 MP3)

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‘Egg bill’ not part of Senate Farm Bill draft

May 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The initial draft of the Senate Farm Bill, released on Thursday, does not include the so-called “egg bill” language dictating cage size for egg-laying hens. 

It confirms earlier speculation that Senate Ag Committee chair Debbie Stabenow would drop her plan to include the controversial provision in the farm bill markup. But National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) vice president of government affairs Colin Woodall expects it to come up again during the farm bill process.

The president of the United Egg Producers (UEP), Chad Gregory, has been highly critical of NCBA and other ag groups who are fighting against the egg bill.  But NCBA’s Woodall maintains the legislation sets “a dangerous precedent”.

“And in Washington, D.C., precedent is everything,” Woodall says. “So even though this is a deal between UEP and HSUS, HSUS didn’t make any deals with us or the pork producers or anybody else in livestock—and they will use that precedent to eventually come after all of us.”

UEP’s Gregory says the egg bill is critical to the egg industry’s survival.  Woodall argues federal legislation is not UEP’s only option.

“If this is really what the egg industry wants, then there are other mechanisms that they can use to push for adoption among their members—other than making Congress do the dirty work and force it upon their members,” Woodall says.

UEP represents farmers who produce nearly 90 percent of the eggs in the U.S.

Link to earlier story and interview with Colin Woodall

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NCBA official: Egg bill fight not over

May 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Even though Senate Ag Committee chair Debbie Stabenow has apparently backed off on plans to incorporate the so-called “egg bill” language into the Senate Farm Bill markup, Colin Woodall of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says the battle is far from over. 

“Late word is the language has been removed,” Woodall says. “But now we are worried about an amendment situation where an amendment could be offered either during the committee markup of the farm bill, or possibly on the floor of the Senate, that would also try to get that agreement put back in.

“So even though we’ve had kind of a short-term victory, it looks like, we’re still prepared to fight this as we move forward with the Senate Farm Bill process.”

Woodall disagrees with arguments put forth by United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States that the egg bill only involves the egg industry.

“This sets a precedent of Congress dictating, or mandating, a production practice to all of us in livestock—and all of us in production agriculture—and that’s just unacceptable,” he says.

According to Woodall, who is vice president of government affairs for NCBA, the Senate Farm Bill markup is expected to take place this Thursday.

AUDIO: Colin Woodall (8:14 MP3)

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Stabenow backs off, but egg bill fight is not over

May 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Senate Ag Committee chair Debbie Stabenow has apparently backed off on plans to incorporate the so-called “egg bill” into the Senate farm bill markup. 

But Colin Woodall, vice president of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, tells Brownfield that the battle is far from over.

“Late word is the language has been removed,” Woodall says. “But now we are worried about an amendment situation where an amendment could be offered either during the committee markup of the farm bill, or possibly on the floor of the Senate, that would also try to get that agreement put back in.

“So even though we’ve had kind of a short-term victory, it looks like, we’re still prepared to fight this as we move forward with the Senate Farm Bill process.”

The Senate Farm Bill markup is expected to take place this week.

AUDIO: Colin Woodall (8:14 MP3)

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The market potential for cage-free eggs

May 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

A new report on the market potential for cage-free eggs predicts accelerated growth in cage-free egg sales and profits. 

The report was written by Oklahoma State University ag economics professors Dr. Jayson Lusk.  It is based on Lusk’s own research and his analysis of a consumer survey on egg buying practices commissioned by a group called the World Society for the Protection of Animals.   

In the report, Lusk examines consumers’ food purchasing behavior related to their level of knowledge of production methods and pricing structures and makes predictions on market-share trends for cage-free eggs.   

In this interview with Brownfield, Lusk discusses the mindset of consumers when it comes to animal welfare and the food products they are purchasing—issues that apply to other segments of the livestock industry as well.

AUDIO: Dr. Jayson Lusk (11:51 MP3)

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Nebraska Farm Bureau criticizes Stabenow’s ‘egg bill’ plan

May 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The president of Nebraska Farm Bureau says federal legislation dictating the size of cages for egg-laying hens—the so-called Egg Bill—“has no place in the Farm Bill”.

Steve Nelson says the fact that Senate Ag Committee chair Debbie Stabenow is reportedly proposing such a move is, in his words, “a slap in the face to American farm families”.  And he says to start the farm bill discussion with the egg measure threatens the prospects for passing the farm bill.

AUDIO: Steve Nelson (2:54 MP3)

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A rebound in egg consumption

March 20, 2013 By 1 Comment

After five years of decline, egg consumption in the U.S. is showing signs of a comeback.

Back at the peak of the low-carb diet craze in 2006, each American consumed an average of 260 eggs annually.  But USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam says after that it was downhill, “dropping to about 248 eggs per person in 2011.”

So basically, each of us was eating a dozen fewer eggs than five years before.  However, Shagam says last year egg consumption ticked up a bit, to a little over 249 eggs person.  And for 2013?

“We’re looking at about 252 eggs per person,” Shagam says.

One reason for the egg rebound may be the record high prices for other protein sources, like beef, Shagam says.  “Given the price of meat proteins, eggs may be considered to be a fair alternative for addition to the protein diet.”

The USDA projects table egg production in the U.S. this year will increase about one percent compared to last year.

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HSUS reportedly trying to stop Prop 2 lawsuit

December 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reportedly has filed a motion to intervene and stop a lawsuit challenging Proposition 2, which regulates egg-laying hen cages in California. The lawsuit was filed in state court by the Association of California Egg Farmers.

According to the Sacramento Bee newspaper, the HSUS, the main backer of the proposition, says the egg farmers’ lawsuit is just another step to try and stop the “humane” measure that was approved by voters four years ago.

In their lawsuit, the egg farmers say Prop 2 is “unconstitutionally vague” adding they would not be able to modify their hen housing in time to comply with the measure’s January 1st, 2015 deadline.

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Missouri, Iowa state legislators condemn ‘egg bill’

April 19, 2012 By 1 Comment

State legislators in Iowa and Missouri have filed parallel resolutions calling on the U.S. Congress to reject the so-called “egg bill.

That’s the bill that would set federal standards for the size of cages for egg-laying hens.

The Iowa resolution, HR 138, was introduced by state representative and House Majority Whip Erik Helland of Johnston.  The Missouri version was brought forward by state representative Jay Houghton of Martinsburg.

Both Helland and Houghton are critical of the Humane Society of the United States’ (HSUS) efforts to pass the egg bill.  Houghton says the bill would “open the door for the federal government and radical animal rights groups to interfere with our farmers and ranchers who are just trying to make a living and grow America’s food supply.”

Helland and Houghton are both part of a new coalition called Protect the Harvest.  The organization describes itself as “a coalition of farmers, ranchers and hunters dedicated to educating Americans about the growing threat posed by the radical animal rights fringe.”

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