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Texas Agriculture Archive

March 21, 2003

Regulations on hold for Mexican cattle

New Texas livestock health regulations for Mexican-origin feeder, rodeo and roping cattle have fallen victim to the state's financial crunch and will not be enforced until at least August 1, after agency budgets are finalized (see related story, Page 4). The rules were aimed at protecting Texas cattle herds from cattle tuberculosis (TB).

"The Texas legislature is grappling with a severe budget shortfall and is contemplating deep cuts in agency budgets. Funding cuts will negatively impact our current programs, as well as hamper our ability to take on any new regulatory duties. The TAHC's 209-member staff already are 'spread thin,' addressing regulatory health issues for all species of livestock and poultry across the state. Our commissioners have decided to delay the enforcement of these new regulations regarding Mexican-origin cattle, because they would require additional considerable time and staffing," said Dr. James Lenarduzzi, who at the time of the announcement was acting executive director for the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).

According to Lenarduzzi, 167 TB-infected Mexican-origin feeder cattle were detected at Texas slaughter plants during the past five years.

"Until we can effectively enforce new regulations for these animals, we hope ranchers will voluntarily segregate high-risk Mexican-origin feeder cattle and roping steers from Texas herds," he said.

Texas lost its USDA designation as cattle TB-free in June 2002, after TAHC detected and depopulated two infected herds in 2001-2002. Ranchers should remember that all states, except Michigan, are designated cattle TB-free and still may elect to impose restrictions on Texas cattle commingled with high-risk Mexican-origin feeder cattle.

Recently, California detected three TB-infected herds and New Mexico has two. USDA action to downgrade these states is underway.

EU biotech action urged

At a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing, the panel's leaders expressed anger over the Bush administration's failure to go ahead with a WTO case against the European Union's biotech moratorium.

Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the ranking Democrat, told U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Zoellick that they were disappointed the administration hasn't pressed the case. "I simply can't understand the administration's decision to delay bringing a WTO case against the European Union on biotech policies," Grassley said.

Zoellick hinted that negotiations with European allies over Iraq has affected the administration's willingness to go forward with the biotech case. He said he is "trying to build a coalition" that would join in the WTO action so the case doesn't boil down to another "U.S. versus EU" trade dispute.

The trade official also said he was concerned with the larger issue of the benefits of biotechnology and told senators he wants to wage a "public relations campaign" to explain the detrimental impact the EU's moratorium has had on African countries that refuse to import biotech crops and seed.

Court hears checkoff case

A federal appeals court on March 10 heard arguments on whether the beef checkoff program, which collects from beef producers $1 per head of cattle sold, is unconstitutional.

The appeals court is expected to rule in two to six weeks. The arguments were part of the appeal of a June 2002 decision by a U.S. District Court judge who ruled that the program was unconstitutional and ordered a halt to beef checkoff collections a month later. Collections have been permitted to continue through the appeals process.

Checkoff challengers claim the program is in violation of their free speech because they are forced to pay for beef industry advertising. The checkoff funds such promotions as the "Beef. It's What's For Dinner" campaign.

USDA to extend sign-up date?

Farmers who do not meet an April 1 deadline to sign up for farm program benefits will get an extension if the failure is not their fault, according to USDA Undersecretary J.B. Penn.

Many Texas farmers have expressed concerns to Texas Farm Bureau because of sign-up backlogs.

Penn recently told a House Appropriations subcommittee an estimated 48 percent of eligible farms have signed up for programs authorized by the 2002 farm law.

A "considerable number of farmers" will decide to participate in the farm program, he said, without actually having to enroll by using a "default option" of not updating their acreage and yield data. The 2002 law gives growers the choice of using their current data or updating it for changes made in the past few years.

As a result, Penn said, only about 15 percent of eligible farmers have to go to their local office to sign up.

"If there's a producer who through no fault of their own can't get signed up by April 1, we'll make sure that we do get them signed up as soon as we possibly can and they won't suffer any losses whatsoever," Penn said.

Producers who have not signed up should telephone their Farm Service Agency prior to the April 1 cutoff and request an appointment.

Notable Quotables

"Trade promotes freedom by supporting the development of the private sector, encouraging the rule of law, spurring economic liberty and increasing freedom of choice. Trade also serves our security interests in the campaign against terrorism by helping to tackle the global challenges of poverty and privation."

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in a March 3 report to Congress on U.S. trade priorities. The report said that the U.S. trade agenda should be consistent with American values.