AFB Wants Live Cattle Trade With Canada

WASHINGTON - Mar 4/05 - MFB -- Plans to conditionally reopen the U.S.-Canadian border to cattle trade on Monday, March 7, were delayed at least 10 days following an injunction filed Wednesday, March 2 in Montana.

Quick on its heels, a Senate vote the following day also took aim at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule, which would re-establish trade with Canada for live cattle under 30 months of age.

Michigan's Democratic Senators, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, were part of the 52-vote majority that passed (52-46) S.J. Res. 4, disapproving of the USDA rule related to risk zones for introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or "Mad Cow Disease"). Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) petitioned for the vote Wednesday.

The same measure was making its way into the House of Representatives Friday, although President George W. Bush is expected to veto it if it reaches his desk.

Wednesday's injunction was issued following action taken by the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), United Stockgrowers of America. R-CALF claims Canada's BSE protections are inadequate, and that liberal cross-border cattle trade harms to the U.S. cattle industry.

Ernie Birchmeier, livestock specialist with the Michigan Farm Bureau, is concerned about the appearance of indecision and uncertainty the delay could project to other trading partners.

"This will hurt us," Birchmeier warns. "We are in a global economy, and the international community is watching us to see how we handle this situation. If we don't rely on sound science to open our border with Canada, how can we expect the rest of the world to use sound science to trade with us?"

The injunction effectively closes the border until the R-CALF lawsuit can be considered in federal court or an appeal can be heard. As of Thursday afternoon, USDA was working with Justice Department attorneys to develop a strategy in hopes of minimizing the impact of the delayed border opening.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Joann was quick to express his disappointment Wednesday.

"USDA remains confident that the requirements of the minimal-risk rule, in combination with the animal and public health measures already in place in the United States and Canada, provide the utmost protection to both U.S. consumers and livestock," Joann said. "We also remain fully confident in the underlying risk assessment, developed in accordance with the OIE guidelines, which determined Canada to be a minimal risk region."

The Office of International Epizootics (OIE), also known as the World Organization for Animal Health, establishes animal disease protocols broadly accepted by the international community.

Joann added that the ruling "is not a reflection on the substance of the minimal-risk rule, but rather a procedural delay while the judge considers the merits of the case. We continue to believe that international trade in beef, founded on science-based regulations, should be re-established in an expeditious manner."

Citing that foundation of sound science, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) strongly favors reopening the border and last week urged its members nationwide to ask their lawmakers to support the planned reopening.

"The American Farm Bureau Federation is very disappointed in today's ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "The AFBF believes that the Agriculture Department's rule, which would have opened the U.S. border to Canada on March 7, is based on sound science.

"We are optimistic the matter will be quickly resolved so the rule can be implemented and trade with Canada may resume. Because there is no scientific justification to bar Canadian cattle and beef imports, to stonewall further would provide ammunition to countries barring our products without scientific justification."

According to AFBF, the resumption of beef and live cattle trade with Canada is unlikely to have a significant impact on the overall cattle supply in the United States. The number of fed cattle projected to be imported after trade resumes will increase the domestic cattle supply by less than 3 percent, according to an AFBF economic analysis.

The United States banned Canadian cattle imports in May 2003 after Canada found its first domestic BSE case. The United States currently allows some beef from younger Canadian cattle to be imported.

Copyright (c) 2005 Michigan Farm Bureau