Federation directors seek ‘more independence’

Directors of the Federation of State Beef Councils have sent a message to their leadership—they want to continue their close relationship with NCBA, but also want the Federation to be “more independent.”

In a “straw poll” vote on Friday, the Federation directors overwhelmingly passed (59-3) a resolution that reads as follows:

“…the Federation should operate in a more independent structure while maintaining the synergies and efficiencies of the current relationship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association—and strongly opposes the recent actions of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee, including the separation recommendation.”

The directors then passed a separate “straw poll” resolution calling on the chairman and vice-chairman of the Federation to form a committee to develop recommendations on how to build “a more independent structure” for the Federation.  Both suggestions will be considered by Federation directors at their business meeting on Saturday.

In a Saturday morning interview, we asked Scott George, chair of the Federation of State Beef Councils, for his thoughts on the what has transpired at the conference so far.

AUDIO: Scott George (6 min MP3)

GIPSA proposal concerns seedstock producer

North Platte, Nebraska seedstock producer Bill Rishel has put pencil to paper on the proposed GIPSA rule on marketing contracts—and he doesn’t like what he sees.  Rishel figures, if enacted, the rule would have a very negative financial impact on both him and his customers.

AUDIO: Bill Rishel (5 min MP3)

Beef exports are a bright spot

Somewhat lost in the all of the discussions about the beef checkoff is the fact that cattlemen are having one their best summers in some time.  Prices are at profitable levels and ample rainfall across much of the U.S. has been great for pastures.  Another bright spot has been beef exports.  We discussed that topic with the new sr. vice president of marketing and communications for the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Dan Halstrom.

AUDIO: Dan Halstrom (4 min MP3)

NCBA watching Congress, FDA on antibiotics

It doesn’t appear that legislation in Congress to limit antibiotics use is going anywhere in 2010. But NCBA chief veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Parker says proponents of the measure aren’t going away.  And Parker says she is just as concerned with recent moves by the FDA to get more involved in the antibiotics issue.  She tells Brownfield the impact of tougher restrictions on the cattle industry would be huge.

AUDIO: Dr. Elizabeth Parker (4 min MP3)

NCBA CEO delivers emotional speech

Addressing the forum of the Federation of State Beef Councils on Friday, the CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Forrest Roberts, talked about the current acrimony in the cattle industry and urged attendees to pull together.  He also assured the cattlemen that all concerns arising from the compliance review of NCBA’s checkoff spending will be addressed and, if necessary, corrected.  As he finished, Roberts received a standing ovation from those assembled.

AUDIO: Forrest Roberts speech (10 min MP3)

Cattlemen work to move past disputes

If you’re fascinated by the internal workings of ag organizations, then Friday’s events at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver would have been right up your alley.  Two big meetings were on the agenda—a forum of the Federation of State Beef Councils and a Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update Session.  Both meetings were standing room only as members of NCBA, the Federation and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board debated the issues that have divided the organizations and caused so much controversy in recent weeks. 

When the dust finally settled on Friday, here’s where things stood. 

Directors of the Federation of State Beef Councils overwhelmingly passed (59-3) a “straw poll” resolution that reads as follows:

“…the Federation should operate in a more independent structure while maintaining the synergies and efficiencies of the current relationship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association—and strongly opposes the recent actions of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee, including the separation recommendation.”

AUDIO: Excerpts from Federation of State Beef Councils forum (10 min MP3)

The directors then passed a separate resolution calling on the chairman and vice-chairman of the Federation to form a committee to develop recommendations on how to build “a more independent structure” for the Federation.  Both “straw poll” resolutions will be considered by Federation directors at their Saturday business meeting.

Later in the day, members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board voted 62-30 to disapprove of the recommendation from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee that the Federation of State Beef Councils be separated from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Earlier in the day Friday, we discussed the issues with Tom Jones of Arkansas, vice chair of the Beef Board.

AUDIO: Tom Jones (4 min MP3)

Another big meeting will take place Saturday afternoon when the NCBA Board of Directors and the CBB hold their “official” business meetings here in Denver.

Cattle rancher Dave Hamilton of Thedford, Nebraska has been actively involved in the various cattle organizations over the years.  He served on the CBB Executive Committee in the early 90’s.  He currently serves on the board of NCBA’s Federation Division and is on the NCBA Executive Committee.   He is also chair of the Nebraska Beef Council.  Following the big meetings on Friday, we asked Hamilton to give us his perspective on what has taken place so far.

AUDIO: Dave Hamilton (6 min MP3)

NCBA president discusses dispute with CBB

In an exclusive interview with Brownfield during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, the president of the National Cattlemen’s  Beef Association, Steve Foglesong of Illinois, discussed his organization’s differences with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board.  Foglesong says it’s important to resolve the issues surrounding the checkoff and to move on to bigger issues facing the industry.

AUDIO: Steve Foglesong (6:30 MP3)

Photo credit: Chuck Zimmerman, AgWired

Cattlemen concerned about low cow numbers

At the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, cattlemen are discussing how to rebuild the nation’s cow herd. Beef cow numbers in the U.S. have fallen to their lowest level in more than 50 years. Montana rancher Bill Donald, president elect of NCBA, says a combination of factors has led to the decline, including dry conditions in various regions of the U.S. and rising land prices.

AUDIO: Bill Donald (5:30 MP3)

NCBA officials blast proposed GIPSA rule

The USDA’s proposal to make sweeping changes to the Packers & Stockyards Act is drawing strong condemnation from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

In a passionate presentation before a meeting of NCBA’s Livestock Marketing Council, NCBA chief economist Gregg Doud said the proposed GIPSA rule is “insanity—it’s legal anarchy.”  Doud says, under the rule, the industry “would go back to ‘a #2 yellow corn commodity cattle business’.” And Colin Woodall, NCBA’s vice president of government affair agrees, predicting the rule would be “a disaster” for cattle producers.

AUDIO: Gregg Doud (5 min MP3)

AUDIO: Colin Woodall (5 min MP3)

Missouri soldier on 2nd Afghan ag tour

by Capt. Peter Shinn

Going to Afghanistan for a year to improve that nation’s ability to feed its people might be viewed as an adventure, a sacrifice, or in the case of Sgt. John Larsen, a calling. Larsen is deploying as part of the Missouri National Guard’s Agri-Business Development Team IV. But this is not his first deployment with an ADT. Larsen, a hydrologist, also deployed with Missouri ADT II.

“He does like Afghanistan,” said Master Sgt. Stephen Bradley, the Noncommissioned-Officer-in-Charge of the Missouri ADT IV Ag Section. More importantly, Bradley pointed out, is that Larsen’s previous experience in Afghanistan has already proven invaluable.

“Oh, definitely,” Bradley said. “He knows the area. He knows the people. He knows their attitude, their wants. So, yeah, he’s been very, very helpful.”

In his civilian career, Larsen has worked with U.S. farmers on irrigation issues. He’s done the same during his military career with Afghan farmers. And according to Larsen, there’s simply no comparison between U.S. agriculture and its Afghan counterpart.

“There’s no tractors,” Larsen said. “The best they can do is maybe an oxen if they have a little bit of money. Everything is done by hand.”

Every Missouri ADT has gone to Nangahar Province, in east central Afghanistan. Agricultural production there includes wheat, corn, vegetables and citrus, all water-intensive crops. When Larsen was last there he spent most of his time building check-dams to capture some of the water that runs through Nangahar. And he intends to do more of the same in the year ahead.

“If it works, stick with it,” Larsen said. “The more water we can get these people the more prosperous they’re going to be. They’re an agricultural province and the more I can get them the better they’ll be on that.”

Missouri ADT IV is expected to arrive in Afghanistan’s Nangahar Province in August. The primary focus of the ADT will be improving the ability of Afghan agricultural extension agents to deliver services to the farmers of Nangahar.

Next Page »