More in Government

Apr. 23, 2013

blog

What Ever Happened To Political Compromise? 4

Perhaps it’s a symptom of the times we live in, but pragmatism and compromise aren’t accepted practices anymore. The result is that either little of real substance is accomplished, or something being rammed down the other side’s throat....More
Apr. 22, 2013

Article

Rep. Kristi Noem Introduces Livestock Disaster Protection Act In House

Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) has introduced the Livestock Disaster Protection Act that would help cover losses in the years 2012 and 2013....More
Apr. 21, 2013

blog

Ranchers Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

Happy Earth Day! The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970; 43 years later, we are still celebrating our planet and discussing ways to better care for it....More
Apr. 16, 2013

blog

EPA Gets Slammed For Releasing Personal Data On Farm Families 22

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is getting a lot of heat for releasing personal information of farm and ranch families....More
Apr. 15, 2013

Article

White House Budget: USDA, Crop Insurance & Conservation Take Hits

The White House budget proposal for 2014 would do away with direct payments to farmers and slash funding for USDA. The 6% proposed cut to USDA coffers joins other proposals such as lowering crop insurance subsidies and conservation program funding....More
Apr. 11, 2013

blog

Interior’s Jewell May Be Best We Could Expect 2

Public lands users hope that incoming Interior Secretary Sally Jewell’s private-sector job experience will make her more predisposed to the multiple-use concept on federal lands....More
Apr. 11, 2013

blog

Obama’s Budget Is DOA, But A Starting Point 1

Recent history would seem to validate the opinion that nothing substantive will happen to change the overall dynamics of the impasse in Washington, D.C. But there’s a growing realization that if some decisions aren’t made, forced decisions will surely come. And both sides fear that those eventualities might not be acceptable....More
Apr. 9, 2013

Article

Industry At A Glance: Japanese Stimulus Worries Marketers

Japan’s move to jump start its economy with a $1.4-trillion stimulus could raise the potential for retaliation by its trading partners, including the U.S. beef industry. U.S. beef exports might be hindered because of Japan's stimulus plan....More
Apr. 4, 2013

blog

Two Views On The OIG’s Checkoff Audit 2

Wile the OIG’s audit of the checkoff was very reassuring about the program and its stewardship, a second way to look at the OIG report is with a real sense of disappointment....More
Mar. 27, 2013

Article

States, Tribes Feeling Their Way Through Traceability Rule

The National Animal Traceability Rule, which went into effect on March 11, is a trial-and-error learning process. As things move forward and more states implement their own rules for compliance with USDA’s animal disease traceability rule, producers are encouraged to stay aware of their own state’s requirements....More
Mar. 27, 2013

Article

Russian Ban On Ractopamine Boosts Brazilian Exports 1

Russia banned imports of U.S. pork, chicken and beef in February due to the use of ractopamine. While Russia may have a genuine concern about the use of the feed additive, there’s no doubt it will use food safety issues like this to protect its own economic interests when needed....More
Mar. 26, 2013

Article

House Passes Continuing Resolution Funding FSIS Inspectors

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) applauds the action of the House and Senate as the House passed H.R. 933, the continuing resolution which contained a similar amendment to that which passed the Senate....More
Mar. 26, 2013

Article

Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act Reintroduced

The Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act of 2013 (H.R. 1345), a bill that would facilitate an expedited process to reduce hazardous fuel loads on federal lands through livestock grazing and timber harvesting, has been reintroduced in the House with bipartisan support by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ)....More
Mar. 25, 2013

Article

Lesser Prairie Chicken Puts Ranchers and Government On Same Side Of Endangered Species Act 2

The lesser prairie chicken is at the center of the latest endangered species brouhaha. But cooperation, rather than conflict, seems to be the path forward....More
Mar. 25, 2013

Article

Ranchers Were “Green” Before It Was Cool 4

The 43rd annual observance of Earth Day is April 22, a day on which Americans traditionally focus on the environment. It’s also a day on which certain elements will criticize beef production despite the evidence to the contrary....More
Mar. 23, 2013

Article

Resolution Should Prevent Meat Inspector Furloughs

Congress passed a continuing resolution bill last week that would fund the government through the end of the current fiscal year. That resolution included an amendment from Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) that shifts $55 million from USDA accounts to pay Food Safety Inspection Service inspectors until Oct. 1....More
Mar. 16, 2013

Article

COOL Rule Adds To Market Doldrums

“Only the government could take a costly, cumbersome rule like mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) and make it worse even as it claims to fix it,” said J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute (AMI)....More
Mar. 14, 2013

blog

You Call This A Fix For Mandatory COOL? 3

The proposed changes to mandatory country of origin labeling published in Monday’s Federal Register are worthless. The reforms may address the total failure that the law has been, but it definitely will add more costs to the system. And it’s all irrelevant, unless the U.S. plans to abandon its WTO agreements, which seems highly unlikely....More
Mar. 14, 2013

blog

Meat Inspector Furlough Is Just A D.C. Game 6

Food inspection is a miniscule part of USDA’s budget, but it greatly impacts industry and consumers. Thus, the meat inspector furlough the perfect issue to use as a chip in Washington game-playing around the sequester....More
Mar. 14, 2013

Article

USDA Meat Inspector Furloughs To Begin In July

The USDA decision to furlough USDA meat inspecters all on the same day for 11 days beginning in mid-July is catching heat from many fronts. There will almost certainly be pigs, cattle and turkeys that go to market 8-11 days later than they would under a normal production flow....More
Mar. 14, 2013

Article

Audit-Based Beef Grading Can Mean Better Efficiency, Lower Costs

Consumers and industry look for the USDA grade shields as trusted symbols of wholesome, high-quality American beef. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the agency responsible for grading, continues to explore ways to more efficiently conduct business....More
Mar. 13, 2013

Article

Canada Response To MCOOL “Fix” Is Predictable, Swift

Canada doesn’t believe the MCOOL rule changes proposed by USDA on March 8 address World Trade Organization concerns, and contends the changes actually increase U.S. food labeling discrimination against Canadian cattle and hogs....More
Mar. 12, 2013

Article

MCOOL Issue Is Far From Settled

The next page in the MCOOL saga was turned March 8 when USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service released a proposed rule to address the WTO finding that the MCOOL program violates trade rules....More
Mar. 8, 2013

News

USDA Issues Proposed Rule On COOL 3

USDA's proposed COOL rule, to be published in the March 11 Federal Register, would modify the labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities....More
Mar. 6, 2013

blog

Farmers Against Crippling Taxes (FACT) Act Would Repeal Death Tax 11

Discussions about the estate tax have died down somewhat since Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which locked in a death tax rate of 40% and a $5-million exemption level indexed to inflation. I think Congress hoped that by passing meaningful legislation, it would placate the growing concern and loud protests from the meager country mice like you and me....More