The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a rule finalizing three previously-issued interim final rules designed to further reduce the potential risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), sometimes referred to as “mad cow disease,” in human food. The final rule provides definitions for prohibited cattle materials and prohibits their use in human food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics, to … Read More
Cattle Industry Fighting BLM Land Use Plans
An amicus brief was filed on Tuesday by The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Public Lands Council (PLC), along with support from the Idaho Cattle Association, the American Farm Bureau, and the Idaho Farm Bureau regarding restrictive land management plans from theBureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The land management plans, specifically the sub-regional Greater Sage … Read More
NCBA and PLC Internships Available
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council’s (PLC) government affairs office in Washington, D.C., are accepting applications for two summer 2016 internships. Both the public policy internship and summer law clerk positions are wonderful opportunities for students with an interest in the beef industry and public policy. The NCBA and PLC work closely on many policy … Read More
NCBA Urges House to Support Disapproval of WOTUS
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council, along with 42 state affiliate organizations, have sent a letter to the House of Representatives urging support of Senate Joint Resolution 22, disapproval of the EPA and Army Corps’ “waters of the United States” rule. NCBA President Philip Ellis, said withdrawal or defunding of WOTUS remains a top priority for cattlemen. … Read More
Private Property Rights Threatened by White House
The White House issued a statement threatening a veto of Rep. Mac Thornberry’s (R-Texas) bill, H.R. 2130, the Red River Private Property Protection Act. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis called the veto threat another example of egregious federal overreach. NCBA President Philip Ellis said, “The President’s threat to veto the Red River Private Property Protection Act is par … Read More
Environmental Group Makes Misleading Claims
According to the Public Lands Council (PLC), the Center for Western Priorities released a study showing the economic benefits of the proposed Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument in Arizona. The study cited claims that a positive impact of $51 million from land management operations, grazing, mining, and forestry in addition to tourism would result from the designation. PLC President … Read More
Federal Agency Neglect Leads to Wildfires
There are as many as 19,000 personnel fighting wildfires in 13 states, according to the Agriculture and Interior Departments. 300,000 acres of rangeland have burned in the Idaho and eastern Oregon in the Soda Fire alone. Those in D.C. are calling for funds to fight the growing fires and the Public Lands Council and National Catlemen’s Beef Association sent a … Read More
Groups File Lawsuit To Vacate ‘WOTUS’ Rule
More than a dozen farm groups have joined together to file a lawsuit to vacate a new Clean Water Act (CWA) regulation, better known as the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. The National Pork Producers Council says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have overstepped their bounds with the rule with an … Read More
Ranchers Reject Bureaucrats Answer to Sage Grouse
The Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association filed formal protests after reviewing the plans from the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service who recently finalized their Environmental Impacts Statements (EISs) for resources management and land use plans, claiming a need for more restrictive management for sage grouse on federal lands. PLC and NCBA believe this … Read More
Federal Spending Bill & Provisions for Producers
The Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association strongly support the House Interior appropriations bill that passed through the committee 30 to 21. The bill allocates how federal dollars are spent for the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies during fiscal year 2016. From language that blocks the listing of the Sage Grouse, to requiring … Read More