Representative Adrian Smith held a conference call today with Nebraska Cattlemen leaders to provide updates on a range of cattle industry related issues. Because Smith returned recently from a trade mission to Mexico, Panama, Brazil and Columbia efforts to obtain a U.S. – Columbia Free Trade Agreement dominated discussion during the conference call.

“I was in favor of a Free Trade Agreement with Columbia before the trade mission. That is a big understatement now,” Smith said. Columbia has a population of 44 million people. By comparison, Canada has 30 million, he added. “Just imagine the opportunity for increased sales of Nebraska and U.S. beef if Congress will approve the well negotiated agreement,” Smith said. “Alternatively, we will lose market share to Australia if the agreement isn’t approved.”

Smith indicated that support for the agreement in Congress might be increasing. U.S. financial support to Columbia has been productive and a trade agreement is a sustainable way to continue improvements in their society and to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Columbia, Smith said. “By providing economic opportunities in countries that partner with us, trade agreements raise the standard of living and can reduce corruption and terrorism,” he said

Prior to the trade mission, Smith contacted Nebraska Cattlemen to obtain input on issues it would like to see addressed. Today’s conference call was an opportunity for him to give a summary of the trip and to answer questions.

Other topics discussed during the call included avoiding a trade war with Mexico and unintended economic consequences of proposed global warming regulations. Smith said people need to understand that a carbon cap and trade program could increase the cost of most every consumer product, including food. “We need a thorough public discussion so people understand they could see a 50 percent increase in their rate for electricity, and that is just one example,” he said.

Nebraska Cattlemen President Todd Schroeder thanked Smith for his leadership in seeking to have the Food and Drug Administration indefinitely delay implementation of the Rendering Rule, which requires renderers to remove the brain and spinal cord of cattle over 30 months old.

The Nebraska Cattlemen association is a grassroots organization whose individual producer members determine issues of importance to the state beef industry. NC performs three basic functions. First, the association represents the beef cattle industry to the legislative and administrative branches of the state and federal governments. Second, it explains beef production (including safety of the product, use of natural resources, care of animals and beef economics) to the public and opinion influencers. Third, it provides economic and other information to members to aid them in their own planning and management. Each member has the opportunity to influence state cattlemen's association policy and priorities through participation in councils and committees. NC programs are financed by dues invested by individual members.