Discussions Draw Crowds

By LaRayne Meyer

Three issues vital to Nebraska beef producers have been the subject of informational meetings planned and presented by the Nebraska Cattlemen. Nebraska Cattlemen invited producers to 10 meetings in July and August at various locations throughout the state to gain a feel for beef growers’ response to the beef checkoff, distribute information about Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) livestock inspections and inform producers about the status of country-of-origin labeling. If you were unable to attend any of the meetings, the following is a recap of what was covered and presented.

COOL

Part of the Farm Bill, country-of-origin labeling, according to current law, is mandatory and will be enforced beginning Sept. 30, 2008. Meat will be labeled with one of three designations: Label 1 – cattle born, raised and slaughtered within the U.S.; Label 2 – primarily pertains to beef from Canada or Mexico, not exclusively born, raised or slaughtered in the U.S.; or Label 3 – imported beef. Cattle born and raised in the U.S. prior to implementation of the date of the law in January 2008 will be grandfathered in.

Producers will be asked to provide affidavits stating the status of each animal sold for processing. Penalties for refusal to comply with this mandatory animal identification were included in the original COOL bill, but that wording has been reduced to include penalties only for those in continuous willful violation, according to Jay Wolf, NC president, and one of the meetings’ presenters.

Be prepared for audits, Wolf said, and keep accurate records to back your affidavit. These could include animal health information, business records and import or customs documents.

LB 677 – DEQ inspection requirements

LB 677 is basically a rancher bill, according to Pete McClymont, NC vice president of Legislative Affairs, who presented at the informational meetings. Ranchers, previously excluded from Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) inspections as they apply to livestock waste management, are now expected to apply for an inspection by the DEQ if their operation falls under certain conditions. LB 677 provides a window of opportunity for ranchers to request an inspection without fear of late penalties.

“This bill is just for inspections and late fees, not compliance,” McClymont said. “These are two separate issues.”

Originally, when the first livestock waste management bill was passed in 1998, ranchers were not part of the focus regarding inspections, according to McClymont. A recent federal rule change in 2003, however, included all animal-feeding operations. Any animal-feeding operation, or AFO, is categorized as those feedlots containing livestock that have been or will be confined and fed for a total of any 45 days in a 12-month period, and where crops are not sustained in a normal growing season over any portion of the location.

Feeding operations are classified by size: small – 299 head or fewer; medium – 300-999 head; or large – 1,000 head or more. All medium and large AFOs are required to request an inspection; and operations with fewer than 300 head don’t need to apply unless their operations are in direction contact with waters of the state, or waste from the yards is discharged into waters of the state through a manmade culvert or other means. However, even a small feeding operation with 20 head could need to comply under certain circumstances.

When faced with installation of lagoon systems, producers have options, McClymont said. For example, cattle can be fed in a field pen with portable bunks – if cornstalk or other crop residue is maintained – without being classified as an AFO. In that case, the feeder will need to manage stock density to maintain adequate residue, because when residue is gone, the operation becomes an AFO. If in doubt, request an inspection, McClymont urged. Inspection rate fees are relatively small, he said, with small operators charged $100; medium $200; and large operators charged $500.

“Don’t be as concerned with numbers as with crop residue and contact with water, Wolf said. “Think about this. If it looks like dirt for 45 days, you’re an AFO. Then look at other factors.”

McClymont stressed three critical points:

·   -There is no difference between backgrounding and a feedyard.

·   -The DEQ is not interested in inspecting isolated corrals.

·   -Producers have until Dec. 31, 2008, but if they don’t request an inspection, late fees will accumulate.

Beef checkoff

The implementation of the beef checkoff has been in effect for 20 years. An industry-wide checkoff improvement taskforce is seeking grassroots input from all cattle producers about the potential need for an increase in the checkoff. Nationwide, 72 percent of producers approved of checkoff dollars in a recent USDA survey.

That checkoff dollar added up to more than $81 million in 2006, with $7.5 million going to the Nebraska Beef Council. The monies are divided into three categories: promotion, research and education. In Nebraska, 45 percent goes toward domestic marketing, with a portion spent on foreign marketing, according to Ann Marie Bosshamer of the Nebraska Beef Council. Export challenges are an issue, with 96 percent of the population of the world residing outside of the United States.

 In addition, research has played a major role in building demand for beef. For instance, the new flat iron steak has been served to consumers with success, resulting in a 150-percent increased value in the chuck. Accordingly, four new cuts have been developed and beef demand has increased more than 25 percent since 1998. Cattle-Fax research shows that checkoff-funded research has added $70-$80 per head back to producers.

“Nebraska is a state with a lot of cattle and not very many people,” Wolf said. We want to see that the dollar goes where it can do the most good.”  Y  By LaRayne Meyer, Pilger, a freelance agricultural journalist covering issues throughout Nebraska.

Editor’s note: While all of these meetings have been completed at press time, if you need information or have questions relating to the topics of DEQ regulations, LB677, COOL or the beef checkoff, please contact the Nebraska Cattlemen at (402) 475-2333. 

Graphics Used:

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Caption: NC Farmer/Stockman Council vice chairman Greg Wiedel answers questions at the COOL, checkoff and LB 677 meeting Aug. 1 in Blue Hill.

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Caption: Jay Alexander addresses the crowd at the NC informational meeting held in Albion on July 31.

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Caption: At the COOL, checkoff and LB 677 meeting in Beatrice, NC staff Duane Gangwish discusses provisions producers should consider in deciding whether or not to request a facilities inspection from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.