Cattlemen Find Reason to Cheer

July 30, 2001

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) said it was pleased that the House Agriculture Committee approved a farm bill that includes many of the priorities for, and recommendations from, cattle producers. "The bill is a winner for cattle ranchers across the country," said Jay Truitt, NCBA executive director for legislative affairs.

"It includes funding for conservation programs important to the cattle industry; increased funding for producer technical assistance from third parties and an increase of more than 100% for market access program assistance."

The conservation section of the bill devotes $16.511 billion, over 10 years, to soil, water and wildlife programs -- a 75% increase in baseline spending. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), including important funding for livestock producers, was reauthorized through 2011 at a $1.2 billion annual program level and 2 million acres is authorized in the Grassland Reserve Program to be enrolled in 10, 15 and 20 year contracts.

"The House Agriculture Committee heard NCBA's message on support for commodities too," continued Truitt, "The bill proposed is market driven and recognizes the inter-dependent nature of American agriculture. The trade section is another important part of this legislation," said Truitt, "We are pleased that NCBA's request for $200 million for the reauthorization of the Market Access Program was met."

Also, the bill contains a provision to facilitate the expansion of high-speed Internet access to rural areas, an important tool for many small businesses, including cattle ranches. One of the few disappointing facets of the farm bill debate was that no consensus could be reached on country of origin labeling, NCBA said.

"NCBA will continue to pursue labeling initiatives, to provide consumers with the information they seek and U.S. producers with the market recognition they deserve," concluded Truitt.

The committee rejected by voice vote an amendment by Rep. John Thune (R-SD) that would have mandated country of origin labeling for meat, fish and produce. In a nearly four-hour debate among the committee's 51 members, it became clear that the country of origin issue is highly contentious.

Numerous amendments to the underlying Thune amendment were passed, including one that expanded the labeling mandate to poultry and another that expanded it to peanuts. Several committee members offered unsuccessful amendments to exempt their states from having to comply with the labeling mandate they opposed.

But the most significant amendment that passed before the Thune amendment ultimately failed was a mandatory livestock identification amendment offered by Rep. Cal Dooley (D-CA) and supported by a majority of the committee.