Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently reached agreements allowing U.S. beef and pork producers greater access to consumers in Mexico and Peru. The two agreements announced Friday will allow U.S. producers to export slaughter cattle to Mexico and expand access to consumer markets in Peru for U.S. fresh and chilled pork. The … Read More
Comments Requested on Dietary Guide Report
The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services want input on the recently submitted report from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The report has been criticized for its recommendations on red meat in the diet, but the agencies note that this committee action is “not the Dietary Guidelines for Americans policy or a draft of the policy.” HHS … Read More
Congress Seeks Positive Market-Access for U.S. Dairy
The dairy industry praised the more than 75 House members who have urged the Obama Administration to negotiate a strong market-access outcome for the U.S. dairy industry in the Pacific Rim trade agreement. Led by the co-chairs of the Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus, the House members sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom … Read More
Lawmakers Urge Science for Dietary Guidelines
Members of the U.S. House this week called for the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture to ensure the final Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) are based on sound nutritional science and adhere to the DGA charter authorized by Congress. Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) and 70 House colleagues sent the letter to Agriculture Secretary … Read More
Groups Provide Input on Dietary Committee Report
Some 70 organizations offered input on the new Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s report during a meeting for public comments hosted by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture last week. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) took exception to recommendations in the report that advise Americans to eat less meat. NCBA Nutrition Scientist and Registered Dietitian Shalene McNeill, … Read More
Iowa Cattleman Shows Support for Ethanol
Iowa cattle producer and ethanol advocate Bill Couser was a man on a mission last week in Washington DC with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Fly-In. Couser finally got a sit down with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy to talk about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and other issues. “I was able to schedule a half hour with … Read More
WOTUS Subject of Senate Ag Panel
The proposed ‘Waters of the United States’ (WOTUS) rule was the topic of the day for the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday, led by Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) who is concerned about the impact of the regulation on numerous industries. “I find it particularly troubling that despite the unanimous outcry from a broad coalition of stakeholders and industries that have voiced … Read More
Cattlemen Back House Efforts to Repeal Death Tax
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is backing efforts to repeal the death tax. NCBA members went in front of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee hearing on the Burden of the Estate Tax on Family Businesses and Farms. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association member and seventh-generation cattleman from Fort Davis, Texas, Bobby McKnight testified before the subcommittee on … Read More
Animal Ag Tells Congress to Ditch Rule
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Past President Steve Fogelsong of Illinois testified before the House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry on how the proposed Waters of the U.S.(WOTUS) would impact animal agriculture. “Let’s be clear – everyone wants clean water,” said Fogelsong. “But, expanding the federal regulatory reach of the EPA and Army Corp does not equal clean … Read More
Senators Want Dietary Comment Extension
A bipartisan group of senators have asked for a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) Scientific Report. Senate Ag Committee chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions chair Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, joined their respective committees’ ranking members, Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and Patty Murray, D-Washington, in sending a letter … Read More