050812 Too Much Beef Already?

Washington - National Farmers Union expressed concern over the closing of meat packing facilities due to unfavorable market conditions. The reduction in U.S. cattle slaughter comes in the wake of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to re-open the Canadian border to cattle trade.

“The USDA said we should reopen the border with Canada despite BSE concerns because we didn’t have enough cattle,” NFU President Dave Frederickson said. “Now the fourth largest packing company in the nation says they have too many cattle. Which is it? Too few or too many?”

The National Beef Packing Company said that the industry is killing too many cattle given the current domestic beef demand and the continued closure of the United State’s largest export markets. The closure of two of its plants will reduce the company’s slaughter by 10,000 head per week.

“We knew that re-opening the Canadian border would be a big factor in the domestic supply of cattle,” Frederickson said. “The fact that in just 17 days packing plants are closing due to over supply of cattle is completely unacceptable.”

NFU is urging the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to conduct hearings as soon as they return from recess to clear up the mixed signals farmers and ranchers are receiving regarding the border issue.

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