(MAY 30, 2023) – The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) wrote in strong opposition to a proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) to allow the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Paraguay. In its comments, USCA cited several reasons why it opposes the proposed rule, including the need to protect the health of …
Atypical BSE Case Detected in South Carolina
(MAY 19, 2023) – On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) announced that an aytpical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, has been found in a bovine animal that arrived at a slaughterhouse in South Carolina. The approximately five-year-old or older beef cow tested positive following routine surveillance protocols and the carcass was condemned …
U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Applauds Introduction of DRIVE Act
(MAY 4, 2023) – On Tuesday, Representative Josh Brecheen (R-OK), a fourth-generation rancher and former trucking company owner himself, introduced the Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen Wheelers Act, or DRIVE Act. The bill would prohibit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from “implementing any rule or regulation requiring vehicles over 26,000 pounds that are engaged in interstate commerce to be equipped with a …
U.S. Cattle Producers Reaffirm Safety, Transparency of Beef Supply Chain
(APRIL 19, 2023) – In response to efforts in the Missouri State Legislature to regulate products sold, distributed for use, or administered to a person that are designed with intent to alter a person’s genome, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issues the following statement: “A viral tweet issued earlier this month called our attention to House Bill 1169, sponsored by …
MEMBER ALERT: Come see us at the Virginia Beef Expo!
(APRIL 12, 2023) – The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association will be at the Virginia Beef Expo this Thursday, April 13 and Friday, April 14 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Stop by our booth at the trade show and visit with USCA Executive Vice President Lia Biondo! Visit the link below for more information on the event.
USDA Answers USCA Petition; Proposes to Close “Product of the U.S.A.” Loophole
(MARCH 6, 2023) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a proposed rulemaking to close the “Product of the U.S.A.” loophole that meatpackers use to purposefully mask the identify of their comingled beef products. Under current regulations, imported beef product can be brought into the US., undergo a “significant transformation,” – which can be as insignificant as trimming or rewrapping – …
Once Again, USCA Joins Chorus to Halt Brazilian Beef Imports
(March 3, 2023) – The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) stands with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, RCALF-USA, Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in calling for the immediate suspension of Brazilian beef imports. According to DTN’s Progressive Farmer, more than a month passed before Brazilian authorities reported a case of mad cow disease, more properly known …
USCA Committee Chairman Earns Spot on National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection
(FEBRUARY 11, 2023) – The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is pleased to announce that its Independent Processing Committee Chairman Patrick Robinette earned a spot on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). This committee advises the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s inspection program activities, including food safety …
Senate Champions for Competition reintroduce the Meat Packing Special Investigator Act
(FEBRUARY 10, 2023) – On Wednesday, Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) reintroduced the Meat Packing Special Investigator Act. The bill would create the “Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters” within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which would be comprised of a team of investigators, with subpoena power, responsible for targeting and …
Members of Congress Reintroduce the Strengthening Local Processing Act
(FEBRUARY 9, 2023) – Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) , and Jim Baird (R-IN), and Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced plans on Wednesday to reintroduce the Strengthening Local Processing Act. The bill would would create a competitive grant program for small and very small establishments, state-inspected facilities, custom exempt facilities, or new small-scale slaughter facilities. It would also …
Cattle Price Discovery And Transparency Act Reintroduced In 118th Congress
(FEBRUARY 2, 2023) – Today, Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. The bill would establish minimum levels of fed cattle purchases made through approved pricing mechanisms, which includes negotiated cash, negotiated grid, at a stockyard, and through trading systems that multiple buyers and sellers regularly can …
USDA Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Strengthen Animal Disease Traceability Regulations
(JANUARY 18, 2023) – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a proposed rule today to amend animal disease traceability regulations. The agency is soliciting public comment on the proposal until March 22, 2023. What will be the biggest change? Official USDA tags will now be defined as those that are both visually and …