Central ND News

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) has joined forces with U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in a push to block the importation of fresh beef from Paraguay to the United States. The move comes in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to lift a 25-year ban on Paraguayan beef imports due to concerns about foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Cramer expressed his concerns by stating, “USDA’s repeal of the complete ban on Paraguayan beef is misguided and foolish. The final rule is based on old data and neglects to acknowledge the potential for a rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease within American livestock. The U.S. has effectively eradicated FMD from our livestock, and resuming imports from Paraguay could reintroduce the disease our producers have worked hard to eliminate.”

The lawmakers have cosigned S.J. Res. 62, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, aimed at overturning the Biden administration’s rule allowing the importation of Paraguayan beef. In addition, they have introduced a discharge petition to release the resolution from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Various organizations in the cattle and beef industry have voiced their support for S.J. Res. 62, including the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, U.S. Cattleman’s Association, Livestock Marketing Association, R-CALF USA, and American Farm Bureau Federation. These groups are concerned about the risks the Biden administration's decision poses to U.S. livestock, particularly animals with divided hooves like cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer.

The USDA's move to allow the importation of fresh beef from Paraguay, despite not conducting a site visit since 2014 and relying on data from 2018, has raised alarms within the industry. The potential reintroduction of FMD into American livestock is a significant worry for many stakeholders, prompting the push for the resolution of disapproval.

The debate over the importation of Paraguayan beef into the U.S. continues to unfold as senators and industry groups advocate for the protection of American livestock from the potential risks associated with the decision to lift the ban on fresh beef imports from Paraguay.