WASHINGTON (Dec. 21, 2020) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) secured critical wins for cattle producers today through the latest government funding and COVID-19 relief packages.
The deal includes additional Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) support for cattle producers, expanded resources for state-inspected meat processors through inclusion of the Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants (RAMP UP) Act, certainty that cattle producers can recoup payment losses by establishing a dealer trust, funding for agriculture quarantine inspection services and an extension of Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR).
NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued the following statement:
“We are grateful to leaders on both sides of the aisle and both sides of Capitol Hill for working diligently to deliver this year-end package that provides vital relief to U.S. cattle producers. This package addresses many of NCBA’s year-long policy priorities as well as our work to respond to the multiple market shocks producers have experienced over the past year.”
“Local meat processors across the country continue to be severely backlogged due to COVID-19. NCBA has advocated relentlessly for passage of the RAMP UP Act, which allocates federal grant dollars to these small businesses – the modified version of this bill included in the House package allows local processors to take advantage of interstate retail channels and provide greater market access, ensuring beef always remains in stock.”
“With the inclusion of funding for additional cattle assistance through CFAP, agricultural quarantine inspection services and the extension of LMR through Sept. 30, 2021, a tremendous amount of continuity and certainty is given back to ranchers and farmers across the country. Now that the hard work of brokering this deal is complete, NCBA urges both houses of Congress to swiftly pass this legislation and send it to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.”