Foot And Mouth Disease Grips Europe, Spreads
(Continued from Page A3O)
Beef producers’ statements
contradict Argentina’s Agricul
ture Secretary Antonio Berhong
ara, who said there have been no
outbreaks of the highly conta
gious virus. If the virus has in
fected livestock, Argentina faces
trouble regaining its disease-free
status, delaying the opening of
new markets for exports of its fa
mous grass-fed beef.
At stake is the country’s $6.9
billion beef industry, which ex
ports cattle globally, including to
the U.S. Argentine officials are
requesting permission to increase
its beef tariff rate quotas to the
U.S. from 20,000 metric tons to
100,000 metric tons (approxi
mately 500,000 head of live cat
tle).
In spite of the disease out
breaks, Brazilian officials an
nounced through World Press
Agricultural Generators
Spectrum Detroit Diesel
iSa I
KATOII&HT
P.T.O.
enerators
25 to 135 KW Units
in Stock!
Service - Rental - New & Used Units In Stock
5 to 2,000 KW
Jr^M.MWMWSVS7FMS
■**■■** s* * * £ * * fc
Power Generation Systems Specialists
V
330 Fonderwhite Road, Lebanon, PA 17042
Call Leonard Martin 717-273-4544
Fax 717-273-5186
-'PM' I. *•
* *•* * JJ J-/J iU ijui 4 4J1J.4.4 4
International on Feb. 28 that it
expects to receive USDA clear
ance by Labor Day to begin ship
ping beef to the U.S. Once ap
proval is received, Brazil hopes
to be a powerhouse in the world
beef market, says Agriculture
Minister Francisco Turra. Be
sides shipping beef into the U.S.,
Brazil hopes that USDA approv
al will open doors into Asian
markets, particularly Japan and
South Korea. “Many countries,
like Japan, are waiting for U.S.
food safety approval, and there’s
a great deal of interest in Bra
zilian beef, which is hormone
free,” said Joao Heirelles, a for
mer beef industry official, now
serving as agriculture secretary
for the State of Sao Paolo. He
says Brazil plans to pour millions
of dollars into an advertising tar
geted at consumers’ health con
cerns. The campaign will use the
English logo, “Brazilian Beef: A
Taste of Nature.” With Januar
y’s devaluation of Brazilian cur
rency, Brazilian beef is cheap.
McDonnell says there’s no way
Brazilian beef will have clearance
by Labor Day in light of the ani
mal health problems the country
is experiencing. “Their products
would have to be certified first,
and there’s a rule making pro
cess with a comment period in
volved. It could be two years be
fore Brazil receives USDA
clearance.”
With the European continent
fighting BSE (mad cow disease),
news that the fatal disease which
affects humans has recently been
found in livestock in Germany,
France, Italy, and Spain has
caused international companies
like McDonald’s and Con Agra to
suddenly ask suppliers to sign
“letters of compliance.” The doc
uments require those who
slaughter and sell the companies
meat to guarantee the animals
have not been feed meat and
bone meal (MBM), which is one
way animals can be infected with
BSE.
McDonnell says the move is
transparent at best. “I have no
idea how these companies will
apply this requirement on im
ported cattle and meat,” he says.
“Considering the transshipment
and co-mingling of imported
product that comes into the U.S.
USDA Toll-FreeFoot And
Mouth Disease Call Line
WASHINGTON, D.C. The
USDA has established a toll-free
telephone center to respond to
questions from the public, indus
try, and media regarding
USDA’s response to the out
break of foot and mouth disease
in Europe. The toll-free number
is (800) 601-9327. International
X High Quality
X Affordable Prices
X Saves feed by
keeping feed off
the ground
X High yield steel
tube construction
Call Us For Your Nearest Dealer!
Lebanon valley enterprises, Inc.
Manufacturing • Powder Coating • Precast
RO. Box 187, Myerstown, PA 17067 • (717) 866-2030
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 31,2001-A3l
from foreign countries, the only
viable solution is for U.S. beef
producers and consumers to de
mand that Congress take imme
diate action on meaningful coun-
try-of-origin labeling and import
control mechanisms. American
beef producers are at terrible
risk. It’s time to insist that their
interests are put first. There’s no
time to waste in protection of our
domestic beef supply and the
American rancher.”
callers can reach the center by
dialing 01-301-734-9257.
The phone center is staffed by
veterinarians and import/export
experts from USDA’s Animal
and Plant Health Inspection
Service who can explain the re
strictions and regulations.
X Baked on high gloss, high impact and
acid resistant TGIC polyester
powdercoating
X Feeder comes disassembled for ease
of hauling
X Parts easily replaced with bolt together
design
X Pulling lugs to move feeder from one
area to another