News Update
January 28, 2015
MSCA Urges Secretary Jewell
to File Appeal to Wolf Ruling
On behalf of the cattlemen and cattlewomen of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) is urging the Secretary of Interior Sally Jewel to immediately appeal the decision of U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell on Dec. 19, 2014 that vacated the U.S. Department of Interior’s action that delisted the wolves in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. In addition, MSCA further requests that the appeal include a petition for immediate stay of the order and full reinstatement of the final rule revising the Listing of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) in the Western Great Lakes (the “Final Rule”), 76 Fed. Reg. 81,666 (Dec. 28, 2011), pending completion of the appeal process. MSCA has also requested the assistance of Governor Dayton, Sen. Al Franken, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Collin Peterson and the rest of the Minnesota Federal Legislators in urging Jewel to file this appeal.
MSCA President Tim Nolte stated in his letter, “The ruling that reclassified wolves as threatened places Minnesota farm and ranch families in a concerning situation of committing a federal felony under the Endangered Species Act, should they injure or kill a wolf while attempting to protect a family pet or their domestic livestock.”
He added, “The ruling leaves the citizens of Minnesota without any immediate option to deal with wolves that are in the act of stalking or killing their livestock, family pets or frequenting their front yards and creating a serious danger to their children and grandchildren.”
The State of Minnesota, through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture, has developed and implemented a comprehensive and time-proven wolf management plan. This successful plan has been the basis for previous delisting and the means of ensuring Minnesota’s wolves never again become threatened or endangered. MSCA plans to continue their support of Minnesota’s state agencies in controlling Minnesota’s wolf population.
Louise Slaughter to McD’s CEO:
‘Live up to [your] commitment’
New York Rep. Louis M. Slaughter thinks McDonald’s is dropping the ball on safe food, and she let CEO Don Thompson know about it in a letter she sent to him last week.
At issue for Slaughter is McDonald’s support for the criteria for global sustainable beef drafted by the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) — of which McDonald’s is a founding member — and how they address the use of antibiotics.
“... I am writing to express my disappointment in the Principles and Criteria for Global Sustainable Beef ... . McDonald’s 2004 commitment on antibiotic use ... includes ‘reductions in the total use of antibiotics belonging to classes of compounds currently approved for use in human medicine.’
“... [T]he failure to include meaningful restrictions on antibiotics use in the agreed upon standards (developed by the GRSB) calls into question McDonald’s commitment to ending the misuse of antibiotics and could contradict its own policy.
“I urge McDonald’s to live up to its commitment by requiring that its suppliers eliminate non-therapeutic uses of antibiotics, including growth-promotion and routine disease prevention,” she wrote in the letter, a copy of which was provided to Meatingplace.
“I call on McDonald’s to demonstrate a commitment to verifiable standards by providing a response detailing how antibiotic usage in beef and poultry sourced by McDonald’s has decreased since the 2004 commitment to reduce the use of medically important antibiotics. ... Moving forward, the McDonald’s sustainable poultry standards, under development as one of six ‘priority projects,’ should include treatment-only or no use of antibiotics ...,” she wrote.
The New York legislator has written a series of letters in recent years to various companies in the food chain, from processors to restaurant chains and retailers, requesting disclosure on issues related to antibiotic use in livestock. Slaughter has an undergraduate degree in microbiology and a master’s degree in public health.
McDonald’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For more information please visit www.meatingplace.com.
Sweden Finds Double-digit STEC Positives in Beef
Sweden’s National Food Agency has found that 13% of the beef imported to that country between 2010 and 2011 tested positive for shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
Food samples were collected at retail stores, importers, outlets and in supermarkets, according to a report by the agency. The study investigated the occurrence of STEC in beef and leafy greens in the Swedish market.
Samples of ground and whole beef were collected fresh or frozen from 2010 to 2011. The beef sample collection included products from the most common countries or regions exporting beef to Sweden. The report did not identify those exporting countries.
The agency found STEC in 13% of the 177 imported beef samples tested. In total, 27 STEC were isolated, belonging to 14 different serogroups. STEC O26 was most common (approximately 2% of the beef samples), whereas STEC O157, frequently implicated in STEC-related foodborne outbreaks in Sweden, was found in 1% of the beef samples.
The United States exported just more than 30,000 metric tons of beef (not including offal) to the European Union in the first 11 months of 2014, but Sweden was not among the three top destinations.
For more information please visit www.meatingplace.com.
K-State Presents Youth Animal Science Learning Opportunity
Students from across the country with an interest in the livestock industry and related careers can apply now for the Kansas State University (K-State) Animal Sciences Leadership Academy. The academy is an intensive four-day educational experience designed to enhance the leadership skills and animal science knowledge of students in ninth through 12th grades.
Hosted by the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry and sponsored by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council, the academy’s goal is to develop young leaders within the livestock industry and prepare them for a successful future in this field.
“I highly recommend this experience to anyone,” said 2014 participant Brooke Jensen of Courtland, Kan. “It opened my eyes to different aspects of the industry and caused me to think a lot about what I could do with my future.”
“We are pleased to announce that we will be expanding the program and offering two sessions in 2015,” said Ken Odde, head of the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.
Sessions will take place June 10-13 and June 17-20 in Manhattan. Students may apply for one or both dates as their schedule allows. Applications are due April 1, 2015, and can be found at www.YouthLivestock.KSU.edu.
The program’s itinerary will feature interactive workshops, tours and faculty mentor time with animal science professors. Industry leaders will also join the participants frequently to share their knowledge and expertise. Throughout the week, participants will work in teams to evaluate current events within the animal science industry and educate others. This experience will culminate with team presentations and a closing reception on Saturday morning.
Only 20 students will be accepted for each session to ensure individualized attention from counselors, professors and industry leaders. Participants will stay on campus in university housing with program staff for the duration of the event. Transportation to and from the event is the responsibility of the participant, along with a $50 deposit to reserve his or her space. The Livestock and Meat Industry Council generously provides all other sponsorships. Please contact academy director Sharon Breiner with questions at sbreiner@ksu.edu or 785-532-6533.
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