NCBA Summer Conference Highlights
Spirited discussion and careful deliberation were
in high gear in Dallas for the 2003 Cattle Industry Summer Conference.
Among the many issues on the table was country of
origin labeling, with the board of directors of the NCBA voting to
direct staff to petition the USDA to immediately develop and implement
a voluntary "born, raised and processed" country of origin
labeling certification program for use in the export, foodservice
and retail sales of U.S. beef.
In the event that no changes can be made to the current law to benefit
producers, NCBA will seek an extension of the current voluntary guidelines
until a workable labeling program can be implemented. In addition,
NCBA would then work to create a task force representing all industry
segments and USDA that can develop a workable program to be used as
a guide and model for compliance with the requirements of the country
of origin labeling law.
NCBA members also passed a 2004 fiscal year budget for the organization
for both the Federation of State Beef Councils and Policy Divisions.
The year begins Oct. 1.
The Federation Division passed a budget of $61.775 million, with $45.75
million devoted to programs designed to increase domestic demand for
beef. In addition, budgets for $2 million in producer communications
and $1.9 million in international markets implementation were also
passed.
For the Policy Division, a budget of $7.65 million was passed. The
Policy Division provides lobbying and information service in Washington,
D.C. and Denver to the organization's members and affiliates.
To simplify a currently-complex membership system, a new dues structure
was adopted. The new structure will reduce the number of membership
alternatives within NCBA from seven to two. The new structure is intended
to strengthen the relationship between affiliates and NCBA and be
more inclusive of all cattlemen, specifically cow-calf producers.
"It was a very productive and forward-looking meeting,"
according to Eric Davis, NCBA president. "The members at the
sessions gave the issues a thorough look, and the discussions were
thoughtful and reasoned. While as an industry we'll never completely
agree on everything, I believe these are actions we can get behind
as members and make this organization as strong as it can be."
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