Cattlemen Applaud Renewed Efforts on Superfund Clarification
Lawmakers say Congress never intended for
manure to come under Superfund
U.S. cattle producers are applauding the introduction of legislation supported by 66 members of Congress today, to clarify that livestock manure is not a hazardous substance under Superfund laws.
In recent years, opponents of animal agriculture have suggested Superfund laws should be applied to manure from animal feeding, farming and ranching operations. (Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, CERCLA of 1980, and Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, EPCRA of 1986.)
Eight Senators and 58 House leaders from both political parties are now saying that Congress never intended for America’s farms and ranches to be slapped with liabilities and penalties under the Superfund law.
“Superfund is about toxic waste sites and chemical spills, not livestock manure on farms and ranches,” says NCBA Director of Legislative Affairs Stacey Katseanes. “The Superfund laws were created in the 1980s to provide for cleanup of toxic waste dumps and hazardous chemical spills, to force reporting of releases of hazardous chemicals and to enable emergency response.”
Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Representatives Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Ralph Hall (R-Texas) are leading co-sponsors of the Senate and House bills, respectively, being introduced today. These proposals will clarify that livestock manure is not classified as a hazardous waste under Superfund laws.
“It’s also important to note that manure management on U.S. farms and ranches is already heavily regulated under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and countless state laws,” says Katseanes.
In the 109th Congress, 228 members of Congress signed on to House and Senate bills to exempt livestock manure from Superfund. But the bills didn’t see passage before the Congressional session ended in December.
“We’re grateful to all the members of Congress
who are working to protect our farmers and ranchers from misuse of Superfund
laws,” says John Queen, NCBA President and a cattle producer from North
Carolina. “America’s cattlemen work every day to protect the land, water and
air. I can’t imagine Congress would ever intend for our nation’s ranch lands to
be treated as Superfund sites.”
NCBA Announces Beef Trade Priorities
In meetings with members of Congress, agency officials and briefings with Congressional staff, NCBA unveiled this week its Beef Export Access Five Point Plan. As part of NCBA’s Long Range Plan, one of NCBA’s top priorities for its cattle producer-members is creating opportunity through global competitiveness.
“Since 96 percent of the world’s population lives outside of the United States, the best way for U.S. cattlemen to grow their businesses is in our foreign markets,” says NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud.
NCBA’s Beef Export Access Five Point Plan urges:
1. Pass the Peru, Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements. These are well-negotiated agreements for U.S. cattlemen and Congress needs to ratify them.
2. Negotiate a workable South Korea Free Trade Agreement. This could be the most significant bilateral trade deal ever for U.S. beef producers, but we need to re-establish meaningful trade for this to work.
3. Fully re-open existing beef export markets. After a case of BSE was discovered in a Canadian cow in the United States in December 2003, many of our export markets closed. We must continue to work towards normalized trade with four of our key export markets, South Korea, Russia, Japan, and China.
4. Complete the WTO negotiations. These multilateral negotiations are the best means toward increasing market access through tariff reduction.
5. Reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority. TPA assures that the United States stays in the game and isn't stuck on the sidelines while our competitors negotiate deals to gain market share from OUR existing and potential customers.
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Applications Being Accepted for NCF Scholarship
Applications are being accepted for the W.D. Farr scholarship program, presented by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). A $12,000 graduate scholarship will be awarded to each of two outstanding students pursuing graduate degrees in animal science, environmental science or agriculture. All applications must be postmarked by April 4, 2007.
NCF is honoring the successful career of W.D. Farr, 96, of Greeley, Colo., through the scholarships bearing his name. Farr, a third-generation Coloradoan, pioneer rancher, statesman and banker is known for his extraordinary vision. His dedication to improving agriculture, livestock and water development has resulted in significant changes in farming methods that have influenced the practices of ranchers and farmers throughout the nation.
Farr was president of the National Cattlemen’s Association, a predecessor organization of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), in 1970. He was the first president of NCF, and he remains involved in agriculture today.
The scholarship application and criteria can be found online at www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org/scholarship.aspx. For more information call (303) 850-3388. The first scholarship winners will be introduced at the 2007 Cattle Industry Summer Conference, to take place in Denver, Colo., July 17-20.
Missouri Cattlemen’s Update
Summer Internship Opportunity
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association is seeking an intern for a full-time, 12-week summer position, starting mid-May 2007.
The internship will provide the opportunity to gain experience within the following areas: junior programs, membership, county affiliate programs, producer communications, the Missouri Beef House, and event planning.
Intern candidates should have a strong interest in the Missouri Cattle Industry. Majors which would best fit the internship include Animal Science, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Business or Economics, and Agricultural Journalism or Communications, but consideration will be given to students with other majors who are interested in the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. The intern must be available to work full-time during the Missouri State Fair, August 9-19, 2007.
If you are interested in an internship with the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, please contact McKenzie Disselhorst by phone at (573) 499-9162 or by e-mail at mckenzie@mocattle.com. To apply, please send a resume to:
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association
Attn: McKenzie Disselhorst
2306 Bluff Creek Drive
Columbia, MO 65201
The deadline for applications is March 16, 2007.
FAPRI Releases Baseline Projections for 2007 and Beyond
In their baseline projections
for 2007, FAPRI, the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, projects
corn acres to increase 8.4 million acres to 86.7 million and soybean acres to
drop from 75.5 million in 2006 to 70.5 million acres in 2007. Numbers, Pat
Westhoff, grain and policy analyst at the University of Missouri says that are
comparable to the numbers talked about at the recent USDA Outlook Conference.
Westhoff says expected corn use for ethanol could double in the 2007 crop year,
exceeding 4 billion bushels. And increasing ethanol production improves the corn
price from $2 per bushel in the two previous crop years to slightly above $3 per
bushel in every year of the 10-year baseline.
The livestock sector will be impacted by those higher grain prices. Coupled with
increased meat exports, FAPRI projects a leveling off of domestic meat
consumption. “We have been seeing relatively steady growth in meat consumption
over a long period of time. In front of us, we see relatively little growth in
meat consumption,” said Westhoff.
On the trade side of their projections, Westhoff says it’s not just ethanol and
biodiesel driving world markets. He says to expect South America to increase
crop production, a result of higher commodity prices. That, he says could cause
U.S. exports of corn, soybeans and other products to decline over the next 2 to
3 years. Longer term, U.S. exports are expected to recover.
- Brownfield
MU Thompson Farm Hosts Beef Workshop
A nutrition and reproduction workshop will be at the University of Missouri (MU) Thompson Farm at 4:30 p.m., March 13.
The session will cover recent advances in beef breeding research conducted at the farm, said David Patterson, MU Extension beef specialist. The farm is part of the MU Agricultural Experiment Station. Patterson will discuss synchronizing cows and heifers to be artificially inseminated (AIed) in one day.
Daniel Schafer, of MFA livestock division, will report on the value of using proven sires in AI breeding. Chris Zumbrunnen, regional livestock specialist, Milan, Mo., will discuss using ethanol byproducts as supplemental feed for cows on winter pastures, while MU Extension farm business specialist Joe Koenen will discuss beef-cow economics.
The program will run from 4:30 to 8 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m., said David McAtee, manager of the Thompson Farm. The program is free; however, advanced registration is required. Call Tamie Carr at (660) 895-5121 at the MU Forage Systems Research Center at Linneus, Mo.
- University of Missouri
The Missouri Better Beef Seminar is Tomorrow
The Missouri Better Beef Seminar has been rescheduled for Friday, March 9. This Seminar will be held in Marshall at the Saline County Fairgrounds on March 9th. The seminar is dedicated to improving the consistency and genetics of Missouri cattle that are ultimately fed in our neighboring cattle feeding states such as Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The seminar is showcasing some of the beef cattle industry’s top leaders. Speakers from Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma will descend upon Marshall, speaking about topics such as the national beef quality audit, improving marketability of your cattle, replacement heifers and other topics to meet the demands of the consumers.
Speakers include: Dr. Brad Morgan of Oklahoma State University, who helped with the 2005 NCBA National Beef Quality Fed Audit, Dr. Patsy Houghton, General Manager and President for Heartland Cattle Company, Mr. Dan Dorn, Customer Recruitment and Cattle Procurement at Decatur County Feedyard—which is one of two feedyards that features a very sophisticated sorting system and last but definitely not least, Mark Harmon, Manager of Joplin Regional Stockyard’s QSA and Value Added Procurement program.
The cost of the seminar will be $10.00 and will include a meal catered by Smith Food Bank from Slater along with vendors and booths from several companies. Please register by March 7th to ensure an adequate headcount, however late registration will be accepted at $15.00. If you are a member of one of the sponsoring cattlemen’s association, please deduct $3.00 from your registration fee. Registration begins at 9:00, with the program starting promptly at 9:30. Dr. Rod Geisert, the new Division Head of Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri will welcome you to the seminar and provide an update on the MU Depart of Animal Sciences.
To register for the seminar or questions please contact MU Extension Livestock Specialists; Wendy Flatt at the Howard County Extension Office (660) 248-2272 or David Hoffman at the Cass County Extension Office (816) 380-8460. We of course want to thank our sponsors the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association; Clay, Howard, Lafayette, Pettis and Saline County Cattlemen’s; Deem’s Farm Equipment, Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, Elanco, Cass County SWCD, Saline Co. SWCD, MFA, Ralco Nutrition, Select Sires/KABA, MO Beef Industry Council, FCS Financial Services, Joplin Regional Stockyards, Heartland Cattle Company, Decatur County Feedyard, and the West Central Show-Me-Select Heifer Association.
- University of Missouri Extension
Calendar of Events
March 8 Polk County Cattlemen – Smith’s Restaurant, 7:00 p.m.
March 9 Ray County Cattlemen – Eagleton Center, Richmond, 6:30 p.m.
March 13 St. Clair County Cattlemen – Lowry City Boy Scout Hall, 6:30 p.m.
March 13 Bates County Cattlemen – MO-Kan Livestock Market, Butler, 7:00 p.m.
March 15 MCA Board of Directors meeting – Columbia, 9:00 a.m.
March 15 Henry County Cattlemen – Clinton Country Club, 6:00 p.m.
March 15 Mid-Missouri Cattlemen – Miller County Regional Stockyards, 6:30 p.m.
March 15 Johnson County Cattlemen – Johnson County Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.
March 15 Greene County Cattlemen – Golden Corral, Springfield, 7:00 p.m.
March 15 Vernon County Cattlemen – Vernon County Fairgrounds, 7:00 p.m.
March 17 Warren County Cattlemen – Holy Rosary Activity Center, Warrenton, 7:00 p.m.
March 19 Ralls County Cattlemen – Eastern Missouri Commission Co., Bowling Green, 6:30 p.m.
March 22 Linn County Cattlemen – Fat Boys Restaurant, Brookfield, 7:00 p.m.
March 29 Gentry County Cattlemen - Stanberry Community Center, 7:00 p.m.
April 5 Crawford County Cattlemen – Bourbon Community Center, 6:00 p.m.
For more cattle industry events, visit www.mocattle.com/calendar.htm
The Fine Print
This newsletter is a publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. All rights reserved – this newsletter may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without permission of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Did someone forward this message to you? To subscribe yourself, send an email to cattleinfo@mocattle.com.
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If so, please contact McKenzie Disselhorst at (573) 499-9162 or mckenzie@mocattle.com.