Somewhere between boots and saddles, briefcases and taxis…

WSS, USCA, USDA Discuss Beef Checkoff

On May 26 USCA Vice President Chuck Kiker and I met with USDA officials John Ferrell and Ed Avalos. Chuck and I have spent a lot of time working with livestock industry stakeholders to ensure that the integrity and efficiency of the Beef Checkoff is preserved. The majority contractor is making significant changes that could jeopardize the integrity of the Beef Checkoff. Working with USDA to address this was a key topic for this meeting.

Tags: Beef Checkoff Modernization Act, Chuck Kiker, Ed Avalos, Jess Peterson, John Ferrell, U.S. Cattlemen's Association, USDA

New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association meeting update

New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association meeting update and call for comments on Beef Checkoff Modernization Act.

First and foremost, I want to thank the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association for the allowing me to attend its annual convention. The meeting went very well, and I learned a lot about the issues affecting New Mexico ranchers.

I spoke to the NMCGA’s marketing committee about the Beef Checkoff Modernization Act as well as Canada’s WTO dispute case against the U.S. COOL law. We had some excellent discussion and the input gathered from this committee meeting will be very useful in the New Year.

You will notice the pictures of how the “Majestic Wolves” are decimating animals that mean a great deal to our livelihoods. I heard about the problems stemming from New Mexico’s increased wolf population. I even heard a story about kids waiting for the school bus in cages that protect them from roaming wolf packs. Fellow countrymen, whether you are a rancher or live in the city, you understand there is a big problem with excessive wolf numbers out west. If it was your son or daughter waiting in a cage for the school bus in the Washington DC suburbs, no doubt you’d realize that limits should be placed on predator wildlife.

Also, I am in the process of gathering all the comments I can on the Beef Checkoff Modernization Act. If you have suggestions on the Checkoff bill, please email or call me directly with your thoughts. The bill’s language can be found by searching Thomas for the Beef Checkoff Modernization Act or S 3404 IS at http://thomas.loc.gov/.

And last but not least, I was able to meet legendary western cowboy artist Tim Cox! Check out his art at https://www.timcox.com:4443/index.html.

Tags: Beef Checkoff Modernization Act, Jess Peterson, Majestic Wolves, New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, Tim Cox