MSCA 2012 Priority Issues

Land Management-The MSCA believes that State and Federal government agencies and non-profits should develop programs and work collaboratively with cattle farmers on preserving grasslands that remain privately owned and paying property taxes. Furthermore, all lands owned or under easement by the State and Federal governments should be eligible for managed grazing and/or haying. Conservation managers should work with area cattle producers in grazing these lands to control invasive species and enhance desired habitat for wildlife.

The MSCA believes Congress should direct the USDA to revise Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) management policies to encourage the grazing and/or haying of CRP lands, and not penalizing contract holders who choose to work with cattle farmers on haying and/or grazing.

Permitting Reform-In the wake of pending state and federal changes to livestock permitting requirements. The MSCA believes that no cattle farm should be required to obtain a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or State Disposal System (SDS) permit if the MPCA cannot prove the farm is discharging and violating a water quality standard. The MSCA will be requesting the MPCA to update their 7020 rules to reflect position.

Wolf Management-The MSCA will continue to work to ensure the gray wolf is removed from the Endangered Species list and control returned back to the state of Minnesota. If the de-listing process is disrupted by frivolous lawsuits, the MSCA stands ready to press our Congressional delegation to de-list the wolf via legislative action.

Despite de-listing, there still is a need for professional wolf trappers employed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to respond to wolf complaints. The MSCA will work with the USDA and MN DNR to develop a funding strategy to pay trapping services for landowners in the wolf range. Also, despite de-listing, the MSCA will continue to fight for funding the wolf depredation program to pay for livestock lost to wolves.

AGRI Fund-MSCA support the State Legislature amending current statutes to call for formal producer and agricultural organization input into priorities and use of state dollars for the new fund administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The MSCA supports funding for priority cattle-related issues, such as: environmental compliance; beginning farmers and ranchers; research; and cattle related-improvements and modernization.

Animal Identification and Disease Traceability-MSCA policy supports mandatory premise ID registration with the State Board of Animal Health and classifying all data collected as non-public information. Policy also calls for standardized options of official ID being placed in livestock before or at first "point of sale", and supporting the promotion of voluntary recordkeeping to assist in disease investigations.

Child Labor-MSCA opposes the proposed U.S. Department of Labor rules that would restrict the ability of youth from working on cattle farms.

Federal Regulatory Relief-The MSCA will continue to call for regulatory relief, such as: supporting immediate de-listing of the gray wolf and return to state management; opposing restrictions on the use and availability of antibiotics; opposing attempts to require additional federal permits and reporting for a variety of agricultural activities; and continue to press for Congress to intervene in USDA-GIPSA rulemaking to ensure the cattle sector is not harmed by government overreach.

Beef Check-Off-The MSCA has launched an exploratory committee to review the current State Beef Order to discuss if the order needs to be updated to reflect the current priorities of cattle producers paying the check-off. The committee will also discuss if there is a desire potentially increase the state check-off and pursue a statewide referendum vote.