News Update

News Update
Jan. 31, 2006

Organizations File Amicus Brief in R-CALF Case

Five meat industry organizations have submitted an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” brief in support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) rule allowing cattle and beef imports from Canada.

The American Meat Institute (AMI), National Meat Association (NMA), North American Meat Processors (NAMP), Southwest Meat Association (SMA) and the Eastern Meat Packers Association filed the brief in a Montana district court urging the continuation of cattle and beef trade with Canada, AMI reported.

The group’s actions are in response to a motion filed earlier this month by the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) to request a hearing in its litigation against USDA’s minimal risk rule regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

According to R-CALF, its motion argues that the facts in the case weren’t fully developed when the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in mid-July 2005 overturned a previous ruling by the Montana court that granted an injunction blocking Canadian live cattle imports.

The groups represented in the amicus brief argue that “none of R-CALF’s predictions about reopening the border have come true.” The organizations state that the rule opening the Canadian border was working well, and that the arguments that restoration of beef trade with Canada would “undercut consumer confidence in U.S. beef and that the influx of Canadian cattle would adversely affect domestic cattle prices are not borne out by USDA economic data.”

FSIS’s Inspection Directory Available Online

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has posted the current edition of the Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory online, according to AMI.

The directory is a listing of federally regulated establishments that produce meat, poultry and egg products. The online directory is updated monthly and can be sorted by establishment name or number. This is the first time the directory has been published online and replaces the listing in book form, which was discontinued two years ago.
Visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations__Policies/Meat_Poultry_Egg_Inspection_Directory/index.asp to access the directory.

USDA Announces CRP Re-Enrollments, Extensions

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that, starting today, the USDA will begin notifying certain agricultural producers with Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expiring in 2007 that they may extend or re-enroll their contracts.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices will begin notifying, by mail, CRP participants with expiring contracts in 2007 if they are eligible for re-enrollments or two- to five-year extensions. Participants eligible for re-enrollment will be offered a 10- or 15-year contract provided there are restored wetlands on the original land enrolled in the contract. Fifteen-year contracts expiring Sept. 30, 2007, are not eligible for extension.

Before approving a re-enrollment contract or an extended contract, FSA will review the contract to ensure that the required cover is maintained and there is compliance with other contract provisions. In addition, to be eligible, participants must be able to show that they meet eligibility requirements for the new enrollment period. In the case of re-enrollments, updated rental rates will apply.

USDA also announces today that a general CRP sign-up will take place this spring. Farmers and ranchers will be able to make offers for CRP’s competitive general sign-up from March 27 through April 14 at their local FSA offices. Offers for general sign-up will be evaluated based on five environmental factors (wildlife, water, soil, air and enduring benefits) and cost.

For more information on CRP, contact your local FSA office or visit the FSA Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crp.htm.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.