NCBA Accuses USDA Secretary of Playing Political Games

NCBA Accuses USDA Secretary of Playing Political Games

NCBA Accuses USDA Secretary Vilsack of Playing Political Games
I’m KayDee Gilkey with today’s Open Range.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association accuses USDA Secretary Vilsack of using cattle producers as pawns in the White House’s budget war with Hill Republicans. NCBA leveled the charge after Vilscak threatened to furlough meat inspectors for 15-days at nearly 6,300 meat, poultry and egg processing plants in the event of a sequestration. NCBA’s Colin Woodall

Woodall: “Unfortunately, we think this is completely political gamesmanship and it is part of the bigger gamesmanship that we are seeing on the entire issue of sequestration whether its USDA or Department of Defense it is just a battle between the President the administration and of course Congress.”

USDA estimates plant shutdowns forced by inspector furloughs would cost over $10 billion in production losses --- $400 million in lost wages and possible meat shortages and higher prices. Food safety is another worry.

Woodall: “The Secretary’s comments have already had a direct negative impact on cattle futures prices.”

But why, Woodall asks would it be meat inspectors furloughed when there are so many non-essential workers at USDA .

Woodall: “During the Clinton administration, we had the government shut down. But there were essential services that were still required and even back then, meat inspection was considered an essential service and we did not lose inspectors.”
 

Previous ReportFrustration with Russia's Ban of U.S. Meat Imports
Next ReportHighlighting State Beef Councils Role in Promoting Beef