10/17/07 Cattlemen write Bush on Minimal Risk rule

Washington Ag October 17, 2007 The Washington Cattlemen's Association has written President Bush asking that he postpone implementation of USDA's Minimal Risk Rule II from this coming November 19th to February 19th of 2008. That rule would allow imports of any Canadian cattle born after March 1st of 1999, what USDA considers the effective date of Canada's ruminant to ruminant feed ban. Jack Field, executive vice president of the WCA, says mid-November is traditionally a time when the state's producers cull cows and opening the border to Canadian cows about the same time could depress the market. He says the letter also points out that Canada has had several cases of BSE in cattle born after March 1st of 1999. Field: "We've demonstrated in the United States that we have great systems in place to protect and prevent introduction of those cattle into our food and feed supplies. But the big concerns are how are our trading partners going to view this if an animal would be imported in and then test positive at a later date. We could put ourselves all through the same situation we say in 2003." The conclusion of the letter to the President says thousands of ranch families in Washington and across the U.S. are counting on his help. I'm Bob Hoff.