News Update

News Update
June 22, 2006

Industry Organization Responds to Beef Trade News

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Terry Stokes released a statement yesterday following news of the U.S.-Japan agreement to resume beef trade.

According to the statement, organization members remain skeptical of Japan’s dependability as a trading partner.

Stokes said that under the current agreement — contingent on meatpacker inspections to be carried out during the next month — there remains no language to provide for the export of bone-in product or for beef from animals between 20 and 30 months of age

“The United States meets or exceeds all guidelines established by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to freely export beef and beef products from cattle aged 30 months and less,” Stokes said. “Japan’s requirement of boneless beef from cattle aged 20 months and less is an artificial and unscientific barrier to trade.”

NCBA’s Executive Committee has voted to support upcoming legislation to be introduced by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) calling for tariffs on Japanese exports if the country does not open its borders to U.S. beef.

Drought Conditions Spur Slaughter Market

Ranchers are being forced to send more cattle to harvesting facilities due to drought in the Southern Plains and damaging wildfires, according to an article by The Associated Press appearing on the Kansas City Star Web site.

Kansas State University Agriculture Economist James Mintert, who is quoted in the article, estimates total cow harvest up by 3.7% so far this year, and beef cow harvest through June 3 has been running 9% above last year’s figures.

Antibiotics Legislation Introduced

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are sponsoring legislation in both the Senate and House of Representatives calling for an end to the routine use of medically important antibiotics as feed additives.

More than 350 organizations have endorsed the legislation, including the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and others.

Titled “Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act,” the legislation was prompted by growing concern that antimicrobial agents’ effectiveness in treating human infections is becoming compromised by increasing bacterial resistance due to increased antibiotics use in animals.

The antibiotics act would withdraw Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for feed-additive use of seven antibiotics classes, including penicillins, tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides, streptogramins, aminoglycosides and sulfonamides.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.