FEEDING & MARKETING COMMITTEE
12-Resolution passed in 2012
11-Resolution passed in 2011
10-Resolution passed in 2010
BEEF RECALL - 12 (FM)
WHEREAS, the cattle industry is dependent upon the acceptance of its product by consumers worldwide; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of cow/calf producers, stockers and feedlots are adamant in their quest for a wholesome and safe product; and
WHEREAS, the packers, wholesalers and retailers are also dependent upon the same high standards for their continuing existence and financial well-being; and
WHEREAS, nowhere else in the world do consumers have the quality, abundance and affordable beef products at their disposal as in the United States.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA urges the Secretary of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and all other agencies that are in direct contact with the beef industry to use caution, common-sense and science when dealing with such matters due to the fact that the news media have a tendency to overstate and sensationalize.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the NDSA urges the Cattlemen’s Beef Board to further educate the consumer on proper care and preparation of beef products for the sake of consumers and producers alike.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the NDSA opposes any bill to allow the Secretary of Agriculture or federal agency to recall product arbitrarily.
EXPORTS - 12 (FM)
WHEREAS, the NDSA recognizes the necessity of increased beef and beef product exports.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA supports National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s efforts to effectively organize all organizations and government agencies involved in foreign market development to provide a united, well-developed and aggressive foreign trade effort, with the goal of a positive balance of trade with all nations.
horse harvest - 12 (fm)
WHEREAS, federal legislation has been proposed to ban horse harvest and the transportation of horses for harvest.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA supports the humane harvest of horses for domestic use and/or export.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the NDSA supports the sale and/or transportation of horses for harvest and the export of horses and horse products.
MEAT INSPECTION - IMPORTED MEAT - 12 (FM)
WHEREAS, standards of meat inspection in foreign plants exporting meat to the United States are required by law to be the same as United States meat inspection standards.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA supports holding all imported meats to the same production, slaughter, processing and transportation standards as domestically produced product.
COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING - 12 (FM)
WHEREAS, origin is defined as country where the product was born, raised and processed; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA supports country-of-origin labeling (COOL), which would require that cattle be born, fed and processed in the United States in order to receive the United States grade stamp.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the NDSA urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture and elected officials to work toward implementing COOL in the most efficient, most accurate, least expensive and least burdensome way for the benefit of United States beef producers and consumers. All live cattle imported to the United States must be branded and/or ID’d as to country of origin. When all imports are thus identified, the balance of all cattle slaughtered in the United States will be assumed to be United States product.
FINANCING FOR CATTLE FEEDING - 11 (FM)
WHEREAS, the cattle feeding industry in North Dakota adds value to North Dakota crops and agricultural co-products and adds value to weaned calves; and
WHEREAS, cattle feeding stimulates the local economy in supporting services of veterinary, transportation, marketing, banking, machinery and other input providers; and
WHEREAS, terminal slaughter markets are available within the surrounding region; and
WHEREAS, cattle values and cattle feeding costs have increased substantially and capital availability has not kept pace.
BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA encourages the legislature, the Bank of North Dakota and other lending agencies to assist the business of cattle feeding through easier access to capital, including lower equity requirements and competitive interest rates.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, a program be developed by the legislature and the Bank of North Dakota to provide a loan-guarantee program for lending agencies to support cattle feeders. The guarantee program would be used to provide a reasonable level of risk reduction for local lenders and be used for the purchase of cattle for feeding. The intent is to create a simple loan guarantee program for the purchase of cattle for purpose of feeding that local banks or lending institutions can use to help meet the capital requirements of feeding cattle.
FOREIGN CATTLE IMPORTS - 11 (FM)
WHEREAS, infectious diseases carried by livestock or meat imported from other countries could be devastating to the U.S. beef and cattle industry; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. government continues to pursue trade agreements with some of these countries.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA opposes the importation of cattle and meat from countries with an infectious disease until the possibility of infecting U.S. livestock or humans is negligible as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, any disease traced back to these imports be the full responsibility and liability of the country of origin.
AG PACE - 10 (FM)
WHEREAS, capital investment is a restricting factor in value-added expansion; and
WHEREAS, Ag PACE interest rate buy-downs can facilitate capital investment.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA supports the Bank of North Dakota’s proposal of $20,000 per biennium and $60,000 lifetime cap without needs testing.
AMBIENT AIR ODOR REGULATIONS - 10 (FM)
WHEREAS, the scentometer is not an objective scientific-based test; and
WHEREAS, concentrated animal feeding operations are required to submit to the North Dakota Department of Health nutrient management and odor control plans that must be implemented and followed in order to obtain the Department of Health’s approval to operate permit; and
WHEREAS, Article 33-15-02 of the administration code establishes ambient air quality standards for the regulation of air quality in the state; and
WHEREAS, the odor from open-air feedlots has not been established as a health hazard and is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota Century Code Chapter 23-25-11 discourages development of the feeding industry and other industries in North Dakota because of the increased and unnecessary risk of regulation.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA supports the elimination of using scentometer readings for ambient air odor regulation on open-air feedlots.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the NDSA work to change the North Dakota Century Code to support animal feeding operations.
CELL PHONE COVERAGE - 10 (FM)
WHEREAS, a strong communication system is necessary for economic development and maintaining a strong business climate; and
WHEREAS, many of our rural communities lack adequate cell phone coverage to meet their communication needs.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA shall encourage the development of cell phone coverage in rural areas to meet the communication needs of rural business.
PROPOSED GIPSA RULE - 10 (FM)
WHEREAS, the NDSA supports a competitive marketplace and more profit opportunities for all segments of the beef industry; and
WHEREAS, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration has recently proposed a rule to address livestock competition issues; and
WHEREAS, the NDSA recognizes the intent of the rule is to improve the plight of producers; however, several problematic provisions in it could hinder some marketing options and profit opportunities available currently.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA continues to educate decision-makers about these problems and work to achieve results beneficial to the North Dakota beef industry.
SULFUR LEVELS IN BYPRODUCTS - 10 (FM)
WHEREAS, potentially high levels of sulfur in feed products could be detrimental to livestock production.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NDSA supports a statement of the maximum sulfur guarantee in terms of percentage on the labels of all distillers products and corn gluten feeds sold from their plants.