Resolutions

Resolutions

Updated January 2011

Resolutions of the

Independent Beef Association of North Dakota

Resolution USDA-GS 2005-1

USDA Grade Stamp

I-BAND supports restricting the USDA grade stamp to be used only on cattle born, raised and processed in the United States.

Resolution NAIS 2005-1

NAIS

WHEREAS: The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is to be an animal health program with the goal of achieving 48 hour trace back in the case of an animal disease event in the United States and,

WHEREAS: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that the animal tracking component of the NAIS is to be privatized and therefore unfunded by the federal government and,

WHEREAS: It has not yet been proven that the data can be kept any more confidential under a private consortium than under animal health officials and,

WHEREAS: It has not yet been determined what the cost and benefit will be to the producers under a yet unidentified consortium and,

WHEREAS: USDA will need a program for tracking animals in the event of an animal health emergency,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: In North Dakota, the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (IBAND) will only support a voluntary program that is funded by USDA-APHIS and/or state appropriated funds and administered by the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: I-BAND opposes any attempt to privatize the tracking component of the NAIS.

Resolution Trade 2006-1

Trade

BE IT RESOLVED: The Independent Beef Association of North Dakota opposes any Free Trade Agreement that has a detrimental effect on the U.S. live cattle industry and the overall viability and sustainability of the U.S. economy or the sovereignty of the United States of America.

Resolution SFNCBA 2006-1

Separation from NCBA

WHEREAS: The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) continues to work for the interests of the major packers and retailers of this nation over the best interests of this nations cattle producers; and

WHEREAS: I-BAND recognizes that one group cannot adequately represent the U.S. beef industry as a whole; and

WHEREAS: the NCBA continues to promote itself as the organization that represents the entire beef industry of the United States.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: I-BAND wishes to clarify in official policy that NCBA does not represent the views of our membership, and that NCBA does not speak for the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota.

Resolution COOL 2006-1

Country of Origin Labeling

WHEREAS: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) was voted into law in the 2002 farm bill; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: I-BAND urges USDA and Congress to continue funding and implementing mandatory COOL in the most efficient, least expensive, and least burdensome way for the benefit of the US producers and Consumers. Therefore be it further resolved that the US Department of Agriculture will implement the law according to the original intent of the COOL legislation to identify the exact country of origin for fresh, ground, or processed beef, pork, lamb, and all fresh commodities.

Resolution DTUSCI 2006-1

Distinguishing the US Cattle Industry

I-BAND encourages the USDA and Congress to support and maintain the identity of the United States cattle Industry and, therefore, the United States cattle industry shall not be referred to as the “North American cattle Industry,” which includes the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Resolution CS 2006-1

Captive Supplies

I-BAND supports legislation that would strictly limit meat processors from owning any cattle more than fourteen days prior to slaughter.

Resolutions PC 2006-1

Packer Concentration

WHEREAS: The US meat packing industry is concentrated in the hands of three major corporations thereby creating monopsony powers over their suppliers; and

WHEREAS: The Packers and Stockyards act contains provisions to regulate the packing industry.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: I-BAND calls on the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) a division of USDA to enforce the current regulations.

Resolutions ROCFTJ 2006-1

Removal of Cattle From The J-List

WHEREAS: Removal of cattle from the J-List would require all foreign cattle to be permanently marked with a mark of origin, thereby allowing animal health authorities to identify imported cattle which is critical due to the potential importation of animals previously and unknowingly exposed to potential new and emerging diseases, or diseases with long incubation periods, such as BSE and tuberculosis, where the need to locate these animals may not be realized until many years after the date of importation and,

WHEREAS: Once all imported cattle are marked with a mark of origin, the separate identity of the U.S. cattle herd can be maintained and country of origin labeling can be more easily implemented at no cost to U.S. producers,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: I-BAND supports the removal of cattle from the Department of Treasury’s JList.

Resolution ISSIM 2007-1

Interstate Shipment of State Inspected Meat

Whereas, foreign meat and poultry is allowed to be freely shipped and sold nationwide.

Whereas, state inspected slaughter plants meet or exceed federal standards.

Whereas state inspected plants are currently allowed to ship venison, elk, pheasant and quail across state lines.

Whereas, interstate sales of inspected meat and meat products would promote and enhance local economic growth.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota asks for and supports the interstate shipment and sales of state inspected meat and meat products.

Resolution PR 2007-1

Premises Registration

Whereas, the USDA has spent excessive dollars in grants to promote premises registration and,

Whereas, organizations and associations contracting with the USDA for these grants have used deceptive practices in promoting premises registration and,

Whereas, it is the conclusion of I-BAND that the USDA is financially influencing segments of the United States livestock industry by giving grants to certain segregated organizations and that the USDA ministry has selected these segregated organizations to enhance NAIS for the meat processing industry.

Therefore be it resolved, the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota opposes any further government spending to promote premises registration.

Resolution FS 2007-1

Food Safety

Whereas, food safety is a top priority of the U.S. Beef industry and,

Whereas, the outbreak of E.coli H0157 correlates with beef imports.

Be it resolved, that I BAND urges congress to appropriate more money for the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) so they can increase testing for E.coli H0157 in lots of imported beef destined for fabrication in the U.S.

Be it further resolved, that all lots of foreign beef destined for fabrication or sale in U.S. markets be held until E.coli H0157 results are known.

Be it further resolved, that foreign meat tested positive for E.coli H0157 be returned to the country of origin.

Resolution OTM 2007-1

Over Thirty Month (OTM) of Age Rule for Cattle from Canada

Cattle from Canada that are over 30 months of age should not be allowed into the United States due to the following reasons:

According to the Centers for Disease Control, older cattle from Canada are 26 more times likely to have BSE.

Loss of foreign markets

USDA-APHIS admits that 19 to 105 additional cases of Canadian origin BSE could potentially be found in Canadian cows slaughtered in the US

Economic loss to the cattle markets could be too high for the US cattle industry to be expected to accept this risk

Given that 40% of the Canadian BSE cases were found in cattle that would qualify for importation under this rule, the more stringent feed ban implemented by Canada July 2007 should be given sufficient time (7 years) to work before allowing cattle from this age group to enter and possibly contaminate livestock feeds in the U.S.

Cross species contamination is possible due to a lack of dedicated feed mills in the US

The US needs to continue to keep our blood supply clean for pharmaceutical purposes

Therefore be it resolved that I-BAND is opposed to further opening the border to the risk associated with cattle that are 30 months of age and older from Canada.

Resolution HS 2007-1

Horse Slaughter

Be it resolved, the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota opposes the passage of the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and/or similar legislation and/or any regulation that prohibits the humane harvest of equines.

Resolution R 2007-1

Regionalization

WHEREAS the health of the U.S. cattle herd is vital to the profitability of independent cattle producers; and

WHEREAS the US policy was built on protecting US producers of food and fiber, and not managing a disease once it gets here,

BE IT RESOLVED, IBAND opposes efforts by the government of the United States to allow regionalization of foreign countries with animal disease problems if such regionalization weakens animal health or food safety standards concerning importation of cattle or beef into the United States.

Resolution AR- 2008-1

Argentina Policy

The government of Argentina has now taken actions that could harm rural America. The country continues to pressure the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow regionalized imports of Argentine beef despite Argentina’s documented problems with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Furthermore, Argentina intentionally defaulted on tens of billions of dollars in sovereign debt obligations and ignored U.S. court judgments demanding repayment- an action that threatens U.S. teachers pensions, reduces available capital here in America, and gives Argentina an unfair advantage in the international marketplace through currency devaluation.

Legislation was introduced in the 100th Congress to address these issues, and similar legislation will likely be introduced in the 111th Congress.

Therefore, be it resolve that the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota calls on the Administration and Congress to pass the necessary laws to protect the domestic herd from FMD and to demand repayment of obligations to U.S. taxpayers and U.S. businesses.

Resolution BSE Testing 2008-1

BSE Testing

I-BAND supports the right of any packing plant to test for BSE for the purpose of marketing.

Resolution BF 2008-1

Brucellosis Funding

I-BAND urges the USDA to reallocate NAIS funds, to continue Brucellosis vaccination and surveillance.

Resolution NPI 2008-1

National Plum Island

The National Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab located on Plum Island should be either remodeled or rebuilt on Plum Island. Be it resolved: I-BAND absolutely opposes any efforts by the USDA to relocate the lab to any state on the main land.

Resolution BRU 2009-1

Brucellosis Committee

WHEREAS, USDA-APHIS has implied there is a lack of federal funding to continue the national Bovine Brucellosis eradication program in its current and most scientifically-based form and,

WHEREAS, the continued prevalence of bovine brucellosis in the United States in wildlife poses a

significant risk to public and animal health.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I-BAND recommends USDA-APHIS continue to prioritize funding for an eradication and indemnification program for Brucellosis.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that industry and state animal health officials fully participate in any

restructuring efforts to the current program before such changes are implemented by APHIS, and that any program changes allow states to retain the authority to implement additional testing requirements to protect their livestock and wildlife populations.

Resolution TB 2009-1

Tuberculosis Funding

WHEREAS, USDA-APHIS has implied there is a lack of federal funding to continue the national Bovine Tuberculosis eradication program in its current and most scientifically-based form and,

WHEREAS, the continued prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the United States in both domestic livestock and wildlife may pose a significant risk to public and animal health.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I-BAND recommends USDA-APHIS continue to prioritize funding for an eradication and indemnification program for bovine tuberculosis.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that industry and state animal health officials be allowed to participate in any restructuring efforts to the current program before such changes are implemented by APHIS, and that any program changes allow states to retain the authority to implement additional testing requirements to protect their livestock and wildlife populations.

Resolution BOH 2009-1

Board of Animal Health

WHEREAS BE IT RESOLVED I-BAND as an organization representing independent beef producers of North Dakota and,

WHEREAS as we should be allowed participation in the nomination process for members of the board of animal health.

Resolution CNT 2009-1

Cap and Trade

WHEREAS the cap and trade bill has a high probability of adversely affecting the viability profitability of the agriculture industry as currently written.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED I-BAND opposes the cap and trade bill.

Resolution GIPSA 2010-1

Fair Marketing Rules for GIPSA

WHEREAS, A lack of a cash market hurts all prices including contract prices and Packers are using their concentration to destroy the cash “spot” market resulting in a steady decline in population of Rural America and family ranchers and farmers are exiting the business at an alarming rate and;

WHEREAS, Judges have continually misinterpreted the Packers and Stockyards Act.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I-BAND strongly supports the proposed GIPSA Rule clarifications to the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 as presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) and supports any efforts by USDA and GIPSA to reestablish a fair, transparent and open cash market.

Resolution CBB 2010-1

Checkoff Audit

WHEREAS, The Cattlemen’s Beef Board ordered and paid for a partial independent audit of the beef checkoff, and whereas the audit performed by Clifton Gunderson did find between 40 and 90 thousand dollars of misallocated funds.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I-BAND urges a complete audit for the two year and five month time period in question and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That any irregularities found in a full audit would automatically call for a full audit of the Beef Checkoff since its inception.

Resolution WD 2010-1

Wildlife Depredation

WHEREAS, Management goals in most areas of North Dakota have exceeded target numbers for several years; and

WHEREAS, Seasonal wildlife concentrations are known to cause damage to stored or stockpiled feed crops causing undue stress to farmers and ranchers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I-BAND supports a change to the North Dakota Century Code dealing with depredation to include all wildlife, including big game.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, I-BAND supports a change to the Century Code to include stored or stockpiled crops such as hay or grain, as well as

un-harvested crops standing in fields.

Resolution BC 2010-1

Funding Restrictions for Federation of State Beef Councils

WHEREAS, A recent audit found that Beef Checkoff funds had been used to promote activities of the NCBA and;

WHEREAS, The perceived firewall between the Checkoff and the policy entities of the NCBA is obviously inadequate.

WHEREAS, Not all North Dakota producers want to support the activities of the NCBA.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I-BAND calls for the North Dakota Beef Commission to restrict the amount of revenue being sent to the Federation of State Beef Councils.

Resolution BCBM 2010-1

North Dakota Beef Commission Board Member Positions

WHEREAS, Presently only select organizations can recommend persons to serve on the North Dakota Beef Commission Board of Directors, subsequently appointed by the Governor.

WHEREAS, The positions on the North Dakota Beef Commission Board should be filled through democratic process where all producers who pay the Beef Checkoff fee have the opportunity to vote for persons to serve on the North Dakota Beef Commissions Board of Directors.

BE IT RESOLVED, I-BAND requests the North Dakota Legislature change the process of obtaining a voting membership on the North Dakota Beef Commission Board of Directors.

Resolution BCR 2010-1

Beef Checkoff Reform

I-BAND opposes raising the Beef Checkoff fee and feels that any changes to the Beef Checkoff should be made by a referendum of the producers that pay into the system and not by self appointed special interest groups, and furthermore, as beef producers and participants of the Checkoff, we shall support the efforts to utilize Checkoff promotional dollars collected from U.S. beef to promote only USA born, raised and processed beef to help increase demand domestically and internationally while at the same time, the importers may also use their share of the Checkoff to promote imported beef.

WHEREAS I-BAND feels that the present National Beef Checkoff mechanism has created a framework that is far too complicated and excludes a large portion of U.S. beef producers; and

WHEREAS two segments—the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) and the Federation of State Beef Councils (Federation)- are mandated by the Beef Promotion Act and Order, and the third segment- the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)- is a policy-driven organization that also is the main contractor for Beef Checkoff;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED I-BAND recommends that NCBA, the CBB, and the Federation each become individually independent and autonomous in order to alleviate the impression that they are operating as one entity.

THEREFORE BE IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED I-BAND supports the producer’s right to vote on the Beef Checkoff on a periodic basis.