March 24, 2009 |
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USCA’s “Making Change Work” Fly-In 2009 |
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| Contact: Jess Peterson 202/870-3867 - Email: usca@uscattlemen.org | |
| USCA (March 24, 2009) As part of the United States Cattlemen’s Association “Making Change Work” Fly-in 2009, twenty-six ranchers from fourteen states participated in over sixty meetings with members of Congress and the Obama Administration. Fly-in participants met with their Senators and Representatives, and there was a special group meeting with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). USCA members also met with lead officials from USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service, USDA’s National Animal Identification System, and the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis programs. “This was the largest fly-in to date that USCA members participated in,” stated USCA President Jon Wooster. “I was pleased and impressed with the level of participation from all parts of the country. This group did an outstanding job of not only meeting with their Representatives and Senators, but also teaming up to visit additional members from different states.” Eddie Shelton from Union Hall, Virginia, stated: “I enjoyed teaming up with my fellow cattle producers from across the country and meeting with both Congressional and Obama Administration officials. I felt that we were very well received and that it was well worth our time to lay out the priorities for the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.” “Staffers and officials are dealing with a never-ending list of issues from across the board,” stated James Schmidt from Menoken, North Dakota. “Several staffers had not heard about the possible implementation of a mandatory national animal identification system or the plan to relocate the Plum Island research laboratory to Manhattan, Kansas. I felt it was extremely important that my fellow ranchers and I were able to attend these meetings and express USCA’s opposition to these two proposals.” Justin Tupper, manager of South Dakota’s St. Onge Livestock Market, stated: “Every Friday, the market I manage collects a dollar per head on every animal sold. Now that we finally have COOL, I would like to see a portion of these funds used to promote U.S. beef. The Beef Checkoff Modernization Act needs to be reintroduced, and Congress needs to make this bill a priority for passage.” “Another issue of top concern for the USCA delegation is the continued problems cattle producers face in dealing with Argentina. The Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act is a key piece of legislation that needs to be passed,” stated Destry Brown from Oregon. “Argentina has a problem with FMD, and the U.S. cattle industry should not be placed at risk in order to simply appease a country that defaults on loans made by U.S. businesses and periodically sides against U.S. farmers and ranchers at the WTO. Argentina needs to address its FMD problem, and it needs to come to the table and make good on promises made in business deals.” “The meeting with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson was extremely important,” noted Dar Giess from Pierz, Minnesota. “I also thought our meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal Plant Health Inspection Services was very important. In my state of Minnesota, we are dealing with a Tuberculosis problem. Ranchers are losing thousands of dollars, and we need to get a better handle on this disease and the wildlife that spread it. Both Congress and USDA need to work harder at eradicating Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in this country.” “I am glad that COOL is finally implemented, but I am not satisfied with the size of the USA labels on meat products,” stated South Dakota’s Beef Man, Tom Connelley. “I was glad for the opportunity to relay this during our meeting with the USDA officials overseeing the COOL implementation. They assured me that they will be monitoring labels at the retail counters and assessing mislabeling violations.” “These ranchers did an outstanding job,” stated USCA’s Executive Vice President Jess Peterson. “The days were long and action packed; yet participants never missed a beat, and they did a remarkable job of attending meetings and speaking about the issues affecting the U.S. cattle industry. This group worked twice as hard knowing that they were speaking for the thousands of ranchers that were not able to make the trip to Washington, D.C. Times are tough in cattle country, but if USCA can build on the groundwork laid out by this group, 2009 will be a great year!” “On behalf of all the USCA fly-in participants, I want to thank the members of the House and Senate and the USDA officials, along with their respected and hard-working staffs. We appreciate the time and courtesy shown in meetings, and we look forward to continued great working relationships,” concluded Peterson. USCA participants included: Jon Wooster (CA), Todd Kelsey (WA), Doug Zalesky (CO), Wayne Rusher (CO), Roni Sylvester (CO), Tom Connelley (SD), Justin Tupper (SD), Garret Clarkson (SD), Tammy Basel (SD), Dar Giess (MN), Kathy Waltmon (TX), Brian Malaer (TX), Jim Werner (IA), Zeb Gray (IA), Chris Abbott (NE), Heath Gray (NE), Pat Becker (ND), James Schmidt (ND), Destry Brown (OR), Lee Robbins (KS), Jeff and Brenda Morgan (KS), Eddie and Debbie Shelton (VA), Hugh Broadus (MT), and Bill Sauble (NM). *group pictures available by request – email: usca@uscattlemen.org |
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