News Update
Sept. 29, 2008

Senator Announces Checkoff Bill

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has introduced the Beef Checkoff Modernization Act of 2008. He plans to kick this bill off at an event in Montana on Tuesday.

According to information provided by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), this bill proposes four changes:

1. It requires at least 30% of checkoff dollars be used for promotion of U.S. beef.
2. It creates an importers qualified beef council at the national level for promotion of imported beef.
3. It allows for industry organizations not around at the time the checkoff was put in place to participate in contracts for promotion.
4. It requires a referendum every seven years (or sooner if a producer petition is submitted) on continuation of the checkoff and allows for additional referenda as amendments are proposed on (a) assessment levels; (b) contracting requirements; (c) oversight, administration and organization structure; or (d) collection or allocation of proceeds.

NCBA says it is concerned the bill could result in chaos and lack of coordination for beef research and promotion activities. Among its concerns, NCBA notes that changing “qualified state beef councils” to “qualified beef councils” provides open and ambiguous language, and could allow for multiple beef councils within a state.

The bill establishes an importers qualified beef council to be created and controlled by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This importers qualified beef council would be able to elect a representative to sit on the Beef Promotion Committee. This council would also qualify to keep $.50 to use just as the other beef councils do, NCBA reports.

In addition, the bill would no longer require that checkoff programs be coordinated and implemented through an organization structure, and it would allow the Operating Committee to contract with anybody it wishes for program activities.

This bill has been referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee for a hearing and a vote. NCBA has requested that the bill not be considered this year due to our concerns laid out above, and at this time, the Senate Agriculture Committee does not intend to bring the bill up for consideration. This bill, however, will more than likely be re-introduced in the new Congress.

— Information provided by NCBA.

Senate Snubs Bill Including Nonambulatory Cattle Language

The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected a motion to proceed to debate the Economic Stimulus package, which included language that would ban nonambulatory cattle from entering the food supply.

The measure was rejected by a vote of 52 to 42, leaving it short of the 60 votes required to proceed. The language also included additional civil money penalties.

USDA proposed a rule banning nonambulatory cattle last month.

— Release provided by MeatingPlace.com

House of Representatives Passes Nutrition Program Fix

The House of Representatives passed legislation ensuring current year funding for Community Food Projects, a federal nutrition program. The House passed S. 3597 by voice vote, under suspension of the rules Saturday evening.

S. 3597 makes technical fixes to the Farm Bill, ensuring Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 funding for Community Food Projects, a nutrition program that is designed to increase the access of fresh, nutritious food in low-income urban and rural areas. It is identical to H.R. 6981, introduced in the House by Rep. Joe Baca of California.

“I thank my colleagues for joining with me in supporting this legislation to ensure the Community Food Projects receives its necessary funding for Fiscal Year 2008,” said Baca, Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry. “The Community Food Projects program encourages innovative efforts to expand access to affordable and healthy foods in America’s rural and urban areas. I am proud to support this mission, and will continue to work for greater access to healthy foods in our nation’s impoverished areas.”

S. 3597 will now be sent to the President for his signature.

— Release provided by U.S. House Committee on Agriculture.

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