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Leader’s Letter
In with the New
By Larry Smith
One of the most common questions both Nebraska Cattlemen members and the media have asked me is: What are your goals for your year as NC president? My answer is two-fold: 1) to maintain and continue to develop the respect and cooperation our staff has worked so hard to achieve. We want the other commodity organizations, departments of state, as well as our senators and the Governor to value our presence when there are issues to resolve; and 2) to continue the means by which our membership stays informed and aware of issues as they arise. We hope to accomplish this through affiliate or area meetings where leadership and staff can discuss your concerns. It is our intention that NC be your organization – one you can go to for assistance with making management decisions.
One of the bigger issues to present itself in the last two year has been ethanol production in Nebraska and what the increased competition for corn and the resulting byproducts mean to our members. Outgoing NC president Jay Wolf worked very hard providing leadership and developing NC policy regarding the ethanol issue, all the way to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
The last report I read stated we have used more than 500 million bushels of corn – that’s 37percent of Nebraska’s corn crop – so far for ethanol production. It is projected that by the end of 2008, ethanol plants in Nebraska will have processed 860 million bushels.
The November supply/demand report has the 2007 Nebraska corn production pegged at 13.168 billion bushels with ending stocks expected to be 1.897 billion bushels. Buying opportunities may not be easy to come by.
No doubt Jay Wolf would agree that this past year has flown by. I wish things could slow down enough that we might have the time to reflect on all the things NC worked on and participated in. Jay has done an outstanding job leading and representing our association.
In taking a seat on the NC Board of Directors, a person can count on two things for certain – the position will require a considerable time investment, but the experience is very worthwhile. Becoming an officer only increases the time commitment; however, the involvement brings with it a tremendous opportunity to learn about issues and how they may affect different members in different ways. I certainly will get the chance to meet a lot of people across the state. The friendships I have made so far are priceless and the opportunity I’ve been given means a great deal to me. I’m looking forward to 2008.
Following the NC convention, some of our present Board members will leave and new members will take their places. Among the new faces joining the 2008 NC Board is Vice President Bill Rishel of North Platte. Bill will be a real asset. To the new members, I take this opportunity to tell each how much their willingness to serve is appreciated. To those leaving, I give a big thanks for their time and efforts.
Among the business items NC members addressed at our 2007 convention were: a dues increase, the beef checkoff and, as Jay says, “The Son of I-300.” There is a major concern for gaining new NC members as well as retaining our current members. Each of the councils proposed recommendations for a potential dues increase.
With respect to the checkoff and I-300, the policy we develop to address them needs to be very carefully worded and written so that it reflects our members’ needs and wishes. This especially holds true with beef checkoff policy, since what we decide will be taken to the NCBA Convention in Reno, Feb. 6-9
The NC Board will be meeting in Lincoln, Jan. 29-30, to review new bills that will be introduced in the next legislative session. This is a time-consuming but important process. One of the first jobs for NC President-Elect Todd Schroeder will be chairing our legislative conference. Should time allow, we will stop at the NC office and maybe take a turn though the Capitol.
Congratulations to all who received recognition, especially Rod and Amy Christen and their family on receiving the Leopold Conservation Award. Great job! Congratulations also to Senator Bob Kremer for receiving the Cattleman of the Year Award; it was well deserved. I would also like to thank our IRM Committee for their work on the Cattlemen’s College.
I feel we need to recognize and give a great big thanks to the NC staff for a great convention. I know they spent a great deal of time getting it organized. It would be hard to find even a small part that could have been set up any better. It is impressive when so many things can be given adequate time and space yet be done so smoothly. We are well aware it doesn’t just happen! Y Larry Smith, Ashland, is NC president.
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