Perspective

Nebraska Cattlemen Year in Review – 2006 Summary of Success

By: Michael Kelsey

    At the 2006 Nebraska Cattlemen Annual Convention, I gave a summary report outlining NC’s successes over the past year. Quite a few folks requested to see that information in the magazine. Request granted. By the way, your association did very well in 2006. Congratulations!

1.  Membership – Membership is always a big part of every year. Lead by Membership Committee Chairman Scott Reynolds, NC had an outstanding year – 502 new members with over $1 million in annual dues revenue! On top of that, all nine NC regions held a Regional Roundup and all regions now have a field staff position in place to assist the local affiliates and be a conduit for grassroots information. Great job NC!

2.  Legislative – One of the primary (but certainly not the only) NC objectives is to represent the industry in the legislative arena. 2006 was a great year for NC at the Unicameral. Three of our four priority bills were passed and then signed by the governor. Along the way to that great success, the NC Legislative Committee reviewed over 200 bills filed last year. NC leadership testified in more than 30 Unicameral Committee hearings and two federal Farm Bill hearings (Grand Island and Nebraska City).

3.  2006 Convention – The Annual Convention is a big association focus since it provides membership an opportunity to shape new policy and direction. In Lincoln last month, NC hosted well over 550 attendees and a Cattlemen’s College with 125 participants.

4.  Disaster relief – NC worked very hard at achieving drought relief for Nebraska cattle producers. Upon NC’s urging, Senator Hagel met with U.S. Treasury Secretary three times to convey the importance of capital gains tax deferment. As a result, federal capital gains policy now recognizes ongoing drought conditions and allows for deferment. In addition to this effort, NC led the charge to help cattlemen in the most drought-affected areas receive money from USDA in drought relief.

5.  National conventions – Nebraska Cattlemen leadership carried resolutions to two national conventions in order to help shape NCBA policy. NCBA’s Superfund exemption for livestock waste and Transportation Quality Assurance policies are a direct result of NC efforts. NC led the way for NCBA to adopt a resolution allowing a compromise in reducing the death tax rather than calling for full repeal.

6.  Election year – NC leadership met with 35 of 46 Unicameral legislative candidates to inform them of cattle issues. NC was also available to many of the candidates as an information source, supplying factual answers to their questions about agriculture and the beef industry.

7.  Education – NC has a strong commitment to education! NC’s educational efforts include six BQA meetings, four QSA/Export Verification meetings and four Low Stress Cattle Handling Demonstrations with several more planned. NC hosted 11 young cattlemen at the annual NC Young Cattlemen’s Conference in February, and sent two NC members on the journey from Denver to D.C. in NCBA’s Young Cattlemen Conference. Urging UNL to fill vital vacant research/teaching/Extension positions, NC committed to raising $150,000 over the next three years to support this effort.

8.  Communications – The new bi-monthly NC Post provides members with up-to-date information tidbits. The Nebraska Cattleman continues to improve and, as of this issue, has a new face.

9.  Beef Pit – NC served approximately 11,750 beef meals at the State Fair. The NC Beef Pit continues to be rated as one of the best food venues at the State Fair.

10.  NC hosted the first-ever Nebraska Cattlemen Issues Summit at UNL and plans to make this an annual event. The issue this year was Cattle/Corn/Ethanol. Speakers focused on corn supply, ethanol incentives and production outlooks, providing outstanding information to attendees.

11.  A charter member in 2005, NC continues to support AFAN (Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska). AFAN has sound goals to help livestock producers place and/or expand their operations in an environmentally sound and economically efficient manner.

12.  NC represented the beef industry in two national animal disease tabletop simulations. Hosted by USDA and the Department of Homeland Security, these seminars looked at the vulnerability and recoverability of the beef industry to a foreign animal disease outbreak.

   As you can see, NC has had a very busy and very successful year. This short list captures just a bit of the great victories that have been a result of NC’s efforts. Your association is strong and dynamic, yet thirsty for more. I look forward to a great 2007!   Y  Michael Kelsey is executive vice president of Nebraska Cattlemen. He can be reached at mkelsey@necattlemen.org.