Perspective

NC Left Its Mark at the National Convention

By  Michael Kelsey

After attending the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in Nashville, I always like to take a moment to reflect on the issues, debates and events that took place. Call me a cynic, but I think it is good to review what happened, learn from it and make appropriate adaptations in order to be more prepared for the future. While review is necessary (we will return to that subject later), NC members have – as they should – a high level of expectation in having their policy represented on the national scene. This then begs the question, “How did we do?”

I am glad to report that NC was very well represented at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention. All three of the policies we brought forward were adopted in some fashion, which would not have happened without the able leadership of the Nebraska Cattlemen and NC President Jay Wolf. There is no doubt that ethanol was the major issue and many considered the Nebraska Cattlemen association the leading authority. That may sound like arrogance, and to some degree it is pride, but more important, it is responsibility. Nebraska Cattlemen went to the convention charged with representing our members’ policies and we were successful.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association adopted a renewable energy policy that was based on NC policy and includes all of the provisions we had stipulated. Again, NC President Jay Wolf, flanked by NC membership, was the leader in making this happen. An executive officer from another state association shared with me that he had met no other cattle producer with more knowledge about the ethanol issue than Jay Wolf. That adopted policy follow; you will notice NC’s fingerprints.

WHEREAS, NCBA supports our nation’s commitment to reduce dependence on foreign energy, and supports efforts to develop forms of renewable energy, and

WHEREAS, this commitment is creating opportunities and challenges for our nation’s agricultural producers, and

WHEREAS, past federal support of the renewable fuel industry has been necessary to encourage initial development of basic production technologies, and

WHEREAS, NCBA believes in a market-based economy and there is concern among cattlemen about the influence of renewable energy policy on the availability and price of feedgrains and other feedstuffs,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NCBA supports transition to a market based approach for the production and usage of ethanol produced from livestock feedstuffs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NCBA supports the sunsetting of the existing blending tax credit (VEETC) and the ethanol import tariffs as scheduled and not allowing for renewal in their current form.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NCBA supports input segmentation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and encourages the increase of the cellulosic segment of the RFS while holding the grain based portion level.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NCBA supports research and development of renewable fuels that may provide additional benefits for the livestock industry.

While ethanol was the center of discussion, many other issues were debated as well. NC was active in debating issues like the federal estate tax, cloning, environmental regulations (water and dust), the 2007 Farm Bill, drought designation and relief, beef trade, animal identification, disease preparedness, the beef checkoff, immigration, land grant research funding, invasive specie control, EQIP maintenance, COOL and BQA. Again, NC leadership was diligent and effective in representing our members at all of these discussions.

I began this editorial by reflecting in order to glean lessons for self and association improvement. I take seriously the responsibility to represent NC members at this national forum, as do our leaders. True, our policies were endorsed but does that mean we were leaders?

Most impressive of our NC leadership in Nashville was not their words in debate but their consistency in action. Confucius said, “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”

The same can be said of an association. NC is an association of action. I believe our members expect that. There is little time or patience for words that reflect complaint, uneasiness and even optimism. Rather, action is needed to repair, prepare and capitalize on opportunity. NC is fit for that cause!  Y Michael Kelsey is NC’s executive vice president.