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(2/21/2007)

South Dakota Stockgrowers Renew Affiliation with R-CALF

Also: Plan to work with Governor Rounds to halt USDA’s OTM Rule

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) Board of Directors unanimously agreed on February 14, 2007, to renew their affiliation with R-CALF USA, the only national organization dedicated to representing strictly the U.S. live cattle industry.

According to SDSGA President Rick Fox, there was enthusiastic support among the directors, for the move to renew their affiliation. “We’ve experienced great successes in the cattle industry since R-CALF was first created. We look forward to continued success as we work together to achieve fair trade policies and to prevent the United States from becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for the world’s poorest beef.”

The SDSGA Quarterly meeting, which landed on the 6th anniversary of their first vote to affiliate with R-CALF, was held at the Pierre Inn and Suites in Pierre, S.D., on February 13-14, 2007.

Another highlight of the meeting was a discussion with Governor Rounds, which resulted in agreement regarding USDA’s proposed rule to relax importation requirements and allow Canadian cattle over 30 months of age to enter the United States. “Governor Rounds agrees with the Stockgrowers 100% that the ‘over 30 month rule’ needs to be rescinded. Clearly Canada has not managed to fully enforce their feed ban - several cases of BSE have been detected in cattle born after it was implemented. USDA needs to take back the proposed rule, in order to protect American consumers and producers from the unknown level of risk associated with importing diseased cattle.”

Governor Rounds told the Stockgrowers, “This February, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a tenth Canadian-born bovine. It is undeniable that there are problems in Canada regarding BSE and they clearly can not show us their current feed ban is working. We can't let BSE infected cattle commingle with our herds because U.S. cattle producers will suffer the consequences as was the case when BSE was discovered in a Canadian-born cow in Washington State. The discovery devastated our country’s export market and threatened consumer confidence in beef. Studies reveal that the discovery of BSE in that single cow cost the United State’s beef industry between $3.2 billion and $4.7 billion in annual losses. I will not support opening the Canadian border to live cattle over thirty months of age until the Canadian Government can prove, using sound science, that they have a handle on their BSE problem.”

Fox said the Stockgrowers appreciate Governor Rounds’ foresight on the border issue. “The Stockgrowers are grateful that our Governor acknowledges the risks posed by USDA’s rule, and we are even more thankful that he intends to work with the cattle industry to convince USDA to rescind the dangerous rule.”

According to Fox, the Stockgrowers welcome two new individuals to the Board of Directors - Chuck O’ Connor, Philip, S.D., and Barry Valburg, Draper, S.D.