Bill Bullard, chief executive officer of R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America, said USDA is "dangerously premature" in easing restrictions on Canadian imports.
A USDA spokesman said the new case of mad cow disease won't affect the plans for March to allow imports of cattle under 30 months and certain other animals and products from Canada.
Jim Rogers, a spokesman at the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said a risk assessment looked at the possibility of additional Canadian cases of mad cow disease and that officials believe U.S. producers will be protected.
"We just don't feel the time is right now," said Tamara Beardsley, a spokeswoman for the Montana Stockgrowers Association. "There definitely has been an outcry from Canada and I think the U.S. is maybe overlooking the concerns from its own producers, in our own country."
John Stencel, president of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, said his group wants in place measures including meat labels for country of origin. The group represents producers in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, said he's concerned with a possible effect on markets. He said his group supports a "controlled reopening" of the border to live cattle.
Montana Sens. Conrad Burns and Max Baucus expressed concerns with moving forward right now. Burns said he questions whether the Canadians are serious about addressing "their BSE problem."
Baucus said he doesn't believe that USDA has done an adequate job of explaining why its plan should go forward now. "Above all, they need to take into account the effects that opening the border would have on the U.S. cattle herd and on the integrity of the supply chain," Baucus said.
This information all came from this article. I will note one thing about this article. Most of the comments have to do with protecting cattle producers. I am personally more worried about protecting consumers of beef but obviously I am in the minority.
"We don't need any more mad cows over here," Montague said. "I think it's crazy since they found one to open it back up."
"The bottom line is that the beef supply is safe," said Jan Lyons, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
The Bush administration said it would stand by the decision. But Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., says he has written Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman saying she should immediately suspend the rule.
Gene Harris, owner of a small, family-operated ranch in Killdeer, N.D., said the United States should import beef from countries that have taken adequate steps to ensure human and herd safety.
This information came from this article. You will note that I have mentioned before that the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is controlled by the meat packers and with this stance it sure looks like I'm right again.
Two U.S. consumer groups on Monday urged the United States to delay reopening its border to young Canadian cattle due to concerns that Canada may find more cases of mad cow disease.
"This case gives us great concern that the incidence of BSE may be more prevalent in Canada," said Tony Corbo, legislative director for Washington-based Public Citizen.
"I think lawmakers should ... delay this rule until we get a clearer understanding of what's happening in Canada," said Joe Mendelson, legal director of the Center for Food Safety.
Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the USDA should reopen its borders as planned because the eight-year-old infected cow from Alberta was born before Canada's feed ban was imposed in 1997.
This information came from this article. I find it very interesting that the Center for Science in the Public Interest is ready to let this happen. This is not an organization known for its moderation on food issues so I would be curious what there agenda is in this situation.
Just some sample reactions on the whole issue. I think that we need to reconsider the border opening especially in regard to the recent findings that cattle feed in Canada still might be contaminated with animal parts. Until that is cleared up the border should remain shut to protect consumers.
DISCLAIMER: Keeping the border shut while protecting the consumer will also benefit me as a cattle producer by keeping prices up. That's the way the cookie crumbles.
A reaction: a boat which is going against the current but which does not prevent the river from flowing on. Victor Hugo
Canadian beef on general principles. What has Canada done for us lately anyway?