USDA has sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget two final rules that allow imports of fresh beef products from Brazil and Argentina. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Todd Wilkinson says he’s astounded APHIS gave the go ahead to imports from countries known to have significant problems with foot and mouth disease.

APHIS officials sent the rules over to OMB on Friday ahead of the Memorial Day holiday and posted them on their web site on Saturday. Wilkinson says that follows the pattern of the Obama administration in not being transparent.

Wilkinson says they figured USDA would move ahead with these rules and have already taken steps to head off implementation.

Wilkinson says their next step will be to get Congress to cut the agency’s funding so they can’t implement these rules.