Leader’s Letter

By Jay Wolf

 

Let’s take a minute together and look back over the Nebraska Cattlemen’s past year. I’d like to do it in the context of the goals NC set out as the year began.

Environmental regulations were, and continue to be, NC’s top long-term issues. We certainly have some accomplishments to point to this year. NC has been instrumental in putting together and implementing a Feedlot Ground Water Monitoring (GWM) Study. This is a monstrous undertaking in terms of time, expense and long-term effect on our industry. GWM is an area that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is going to regulate further so it’s critical that NC take the lead in helping ensure that future rules achieve the goal of protecting the environment in ways that are reasonable for our industry.  

Through LB 677, NC helped members cope with DEQ regulations. NC drafted the bill, lobbied for its passage and is educating the cow-calf industry on what they need to do. On GWM, LB 677 and many other issues, ask yourself this: If not NC, who is going to bat for you?

Successful local affiliates make up NC’s foundation. 2007 saw the birth of a new affiliate in southeast Nebraska and the reinvigoration of the Ft. Kearney, Thedford and Gordon groups. We welcome them to our association and are proud that they share our vision for what NC members can achieve together. Total NC membership has grown over 9 percent during the last three years!

NC hosted two past presidents meetings. Utilizing these top cattlemen’s leadership and experience is an NC priority. NC also wanted to increase its presence at the Unicameral. To this end, immediate past president Pete McClymont joined the staff as vice president of Legislative Affairs. Pete jumped right in, familiarizing the Unicameral’s 22 new senators with the Nebraska Cattlemen association. Our stature in the legislature, the governor’s office and other government offices has never been better.

One notable NC legislative achievement is the repeal of the Nebraska estate tax. I consider repeal of this tax (16 percent of estates over and above the federal estate tax) to be one of the most important NC victories in memory. NC also helped members gain an 8¢ property tax credit for some temporary relief in what is a never-ending battle.

Our members expect NC to provide many educational opportunities and I believe we have come through. We hosted 10 meetings across the state on LB 677, the beef checkoff and COOL. Over 600 producers attended. Drew Gaffney was hired as a fulltime Beef Quality Assurance staff member and has been very active, putting on seven training events. Other efforts to provide information include the UNL Environmental Seminar and the Farmer Stockman tour, among others.

Ethanol was identified as a key issue for 2007. NC provided leadership as national policy was developed. One positive result is the segmentation of the Renewable Fuel Standard into separate mandates for corn-based ethanol (15 billion gallons) and cellulosic ethanol. Other areas that we worked on and will continue to be involved with include educating members, lobbying for research dollars and participating in the debate on the future of ethanol subsidies.

The Education Committee has been very busy working with the University of Nebraska. The committee wants to be sure that UNL fulfills its obligation to cattlemen as a land grant institution. They accomplished many goals. The recruiting push resulted in increased enrollment! A new judging coach has been hired, a new Extension beef geneticist will join the staff in January, the NC UNL Beef Excellence fund raised almost $150,000 to assist the Animal Science Department (primarily with scholarships) and leadership has spent a great deal of time working with UNL administrators and staff. There is more to do, including the search for a new Animal Science Department head.

Does it sound like I’m proud of NC? Well, I am and I’m sure you are too. My term as president is just one year and these successes are the result of long-term efforts. I don’t claim the credit, but I had a front row seat and personally experienced how much we all benefit from having a talented staff and dozens of dedicated volunteers. They are the ones who make it happen and my sincere thanks goes to them.

I also want to express my appreciation to the Wagonhammer crew for doing more all the times I was gone. A special thanks goes to my wife, Susie. Without her support this wouldn’t have been possible. Finally, thanks to all of the NC membership for giving me this chance. It was an honor and a lot of fun.

So, as 2007 winds down and the challenges of 2008 rise up, let’s support incoming president Larry Smith, the NC Board and staff. They will have another great year if we all get behind them.   Y Jay Wolf, Albion, is completing his term as NC president.