News Releases for January 2004
January 5, 2004
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Hoeven Meets With White House, USDA Officials In Support Of Ranchers
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven met today with President Bush’s chief agriculture advisor, Chuck Conner, and USDA Chief of Staff Dale Moore in support of the cattle industry. Hoeven outlined five steps the industry would like to see the federal government take to reduce the potential injury to the U.S. livestock industry. The USDA needs to:
- Continue to provide accurate and timely information to the public on the safety and wholesomeness of the U.S. food and meat supply.
- Expand USDA’s efforts to reopen export markets by continuing to stress sound science.
- Require all imports of live cattle, beef and manufactured livestock feed to meet the same rigid safeguards that the U.S. industry has in place.
- Proceed with the establishment of a national animal identification and tracking system; a pilot project, with funding from the USDA, could be established in North Dakota with existing state law providing for animal tracking.
- Implement country of origin labeling, identifying all imported product as of foreign origin.
The governor followed up with a letter to USDA Secretary Ann Veneman outlining the suggested actions, and offering the assistance of North Dakota State University’s new Beef Center of Excellence to expand knowledge of BSE and its causes. The Center, he said, could help determine the safest methods for feeding, slaughtering and processing beef and its byproducts.
The officials told Hoeven they are working aggressively to reopen markets in Japan, South Korea, Mexico and other importers of American beef by stressing strict new policies announced last week by USDA Secretary Ann Veneman. Those regulations will take effect by the end of the week. Additionally, the USDA is sending delegations abroad to work with foreign counterparts in restoring confidence in the American beef industry. The USDA sent a delegation to work with Mexican authorities today, according to Hoeven. Officials also told Hoeven the USDA would take a deliberate and cautious approach to resuming the importation of live cattle imports from Canada.
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