News Update
August 11, 2010

USMEF, NCBA Applaud Mexico’s Elimination of Anti-dumping Duties

In a decision announced yesterday, Mexico’s Ministry of the Economy has eliminated anti-dumping duties that have been imposed on imports of U.S. beef for the past 10 years. The Ministry’s resolution goes into effect today (Aug. 11, 2010) and eliminates the duties effective April 29, 2010. U.S. beef arriving at Mexico’s border starting tomorrow should enter the market duty-free. Companies that have paid duties since April 29 are entitled to a refund of all duties paid.

The U.S. beef industry has been seeking resolution of this issue for many years. With full support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) have led a coalition of U.S. beef industry interests seeking elimination of the duties, which ranged from 3¢ to 29¢ per pound. The duties applied to about half of U.S. beef production, which steered some U.S. companies away from Mexico’s market.

“For nearly 10 years, U.S. beef producers via NCBA and USMEF have spent an enormous amount of time, money and effort to resolve this issue with Mexico,” said Steve Foglesong, NCBA president and Illinois cattle producer. “Today’s news is a big win for all segments of the beef industry because throughout these 10 years many exporters, small and large, were locked out of our top export market due to these prohibitive duties.”

“This is a very important development for those who advocate free trade, as this decision very much upholds the spirit and intent of NAFTA,” said USMEF Chairman Jim Peterson, a rancher from Buffalo, Mont. “It’s been a long time coming, and is a direct result of the cooperative effort of several beef industry interests. I want to particularly thank NCBA for its policy work on this issue and the strong relationship it has developed with all sectors of Mexico’s beef industry, which really paid big dividends in this case.”

Peterson noted that while Mexico is still the leading destination for U.S. beef exports, it is the only major market that is trailing last year’s results. The U.S. Trade Representative’s National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers has estimated that these duties have caused losses of $100 to $500 million annually because of reduced shipments and altered trade flows. Peterson is confident that elimination of the duties will help the market’s performance.

“This levels the playing field for all U.S. products entering Mexico and should certainly help us regain momentum in our No. 1 export market,” he said. “The foreign markets are very critical to cattle producers’ bottom line right now, so this comes as very welcome news. Both countries will benefit substantially from today’s action.”

The anti-dumping duties are scheduled to sunset every five years, but could have been continued this year upon a request for review by an interested party. Such a request was filed by the association of Mexican cattle producers (Confederación Nacional de Ganaderos, or CNOG), but the organization later withdrew it.

“In recent years, the interested parties in Mexico have concluded that the duties offer them no advantage,” said USMEF Regional Director Chad Russell. “Even before the withdrawal motion by CNOG, other Mexican industry associations had remained neutral or actually favored eliminating the duties. This really shows how far the U.S. industry has come in developing a strong trade relationship with Mexico.”

— Release by NCBA.

Temple Grandin Awarded NCBA Lifetime Achievement Award

The NCBA awarded Temple Grandin its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award on July 31, 2010, at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, Colo. Grandin is a world-renowned designer of livestock handling facilities; a professor of animal science at Colorado State University; and one of the world’s most famous functioning autistics. The HBO production on Grandin’s life afforded her the opportunity to make many appearances in Hollywood. She said the public’s curiosity about livestock handling is an opportunity for ranchers to tell their story.

“Through my public appearances for this movie, I have been in Hollywood on several occasions. You would be surprised how interested people are in what ranchers do and how they handle and take care of their animals,” said Grandin, when addressing U.S. cattle producers. “This tells me we need to do a better job communicating to the public about how we take care of and manage our livestock.”

Tom Field, NCBA executive director of producer education, said Grandin has revolutionized the way U.S. cattle producers handle livestock.

“Temple reminds us that the American dream is still alive,” said Field. “She has reminded the world that one person really can make a difference. Beyond this industry, she has given renewed hope to autistics around the globe.”

— Release by NCBA.

Franklin County Ranch to Host Second KLA/K-State Field Day

Silkville Ranch of Williamsburg will host the Aug. 25 Kansas Livestock Association (KLA)/ Kansas State University (K-State) Ranch Management Field Day. The historic Franklin County ranch is owned today by Bichelmeyer Land & Cattle.The Bichelmeyer family has been in the meat business since the late 1800s and continues to operate Bichelmeyer Meats in Kansas City and Bichelmeyer’s Steakhouse in Tonganoxie.

Topics on the Silkville program will address new state trichomoniasis regulations, a new livestock traceability program for Kansas, alternative livestock watering systems and grazing management strategies. During the free dinner, local rancher and horseman Cal Noyans will provide a hands-on demonstration on training and riding a young horse, with the ultimate goal of developing a working ranch horse.

The first KLA/K-State field day will take place Aug. 19 at the Meldrum Ranch near Dexter, owned by the J.J. Gilliland family. Both events start at 3:30 p.m. and conclude with a complimentary beef dinner. The field days are sponsored by Bayer Animal Health and the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas. KLA members are encouraged to attend and bring a prospective member to the events.

— Release by KLA.

University of Illinois Orr Beef Research Center Field Day 2010

The University of Illinois Orr Beef Research Center near Perry, Ill., in Pike County, will hold its annual Field Day Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, starting at 4 p.m.

Please note presentations and the meal will take place in the classrooms at the John Wood Community College Ag Center located 1 mile north of the Orr Beef Center.

The field day will highlight the Orr Beef Research Center’s research and demonstration programs as well as a number of current topics relevant to the beef cattle industry.

Presentation topics include an “Overview of Current Research,” “Beef Cow Winter Feeding,” “Weaning Age and Source of Energy in Beef Calves,” “Using Residual Feed Intake as a Feed Efficiency Measure,” “Does Heifer RFI Correlate to Cow Efficiency,” and “Understanding and Emphasizing Traits in Selection Programs.”

Additionally, tours of the Orr Beef Center calving barn, feedlot and research facilities will be conducted, plus viewing of the Orr Beef Center cattle herd.

A complimentary evening meal will be served including beef brisket sandwiches for all who attended the presentations.

Preregistration is not required and there is no registration fee to attend.

The John Wood Community College Ag Center is located about 32 miles east of Quincy or 32 miles west of Jacksonville on IL Route 104 near Perry.

From the intersection of IL 107 & 104 go approximately 4 miles west on IL 104 and follow the signs. For additional information, contact Nathan Post at 217-236-4961.

— Release by University of Illinois Orr Beef Research Center.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.