Cattle Industry News
Two Missouri Cattlemen move into NCBA, CBB Leadership Positions
Mike John, Huntsville, Missouri, is the new Vice President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). John’s office was confirmed at the 2004 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in Phoenix, Arizona. John, a member and Past President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, is currently the Director of the MFA Health Track Beef Alliance, as well as the manager of John Ranch, a 400-head commercial cow operation. Congratulations Mike!
Congratulations are also in order for Sedalia, Missouri cattleman David Dick. David secured a seat on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (Beef Board) Operating Committee. He is one of ten producers on the national committee who represent state beef councils. David, a member of the MCA Executive Committee, serves as the Livestock Superintendent for the Missouri State Fair and also operates Springfork Valley Farms.
Beef Producers More Supportive of Checkoff Than One Year Ago
According to the most recent Producer Attitude Survey conducted for the Beef Board, 69 percent of beef producers approve of the checkoff, an increase of 6 points over July 2003 and 9 points above a survey done one year ago. On other fronts, 79 percent of survey respondents agreed that the Beef Checkoff Program has value to producers, even in a down cattle market. Further, 80 percent believe the checkoff has contributed to the increase in beef demand, while 59 percent believe that consumer demand would decrease if the program were eliminated. -Missouri Beef Industry Council
Market Update
Fed cattle prices were down last week. The bulk of the southern trade was at $80, while the northern values ranged from $80-84 live and $129-132 dressed. Trade volume was moderate throughout. The cutout was also lower with the Light Choice falling $8.62 to $138.71 and the Light Select closing at $130.11, down $8.94. Feeder cattle prices were $2-4 lower and calf values were steady to $2 lower. Commercial cow and bull prices were steady to up $2. - Cattle-Fax
NCBA Convention Update
The Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show was a success for cattlemen and women not only in Missouri, but across the nation. BSE was the topic of many informational sessions, and Animal Identification proved to be the topic of much debate. Two Missouri cattlemen were honored with leadership positions, one Missouri family was the winner of the Region 3 Environmental Stewardship Awards Program, a change in bylaws will give all NCBA members the power to vote on policy, and to top it all off, Missourians enjoyed an outstanding state reception! More details follow:
Bylaws Change Gives Every NCBA Member the Right to Vote
Members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) concluded the annual meeting in Phoenix by transferring power on policy decisions back to the rank-and-file membership. By changing the bylaws of the national organization - in separate unanimous votes - NCBA members and the Board of Directors verified a system that ensures policy decisions begin and end with the members at home.
NCBA members will now receive an official ballot in the February issue of Beef Business Bulletin. The ballot will include all new or amended policy passed by the NCBA Board of Directors and approved or amended during the annual NCBA Membership Meeting at the Annual Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show.
For the mail ballot election to be valid, there must be at least a 20 percent return rate of the ballots, and that must include a 20 percent return rate from four of the seven NCBA regions. The regional qualification was added to prohibit a single region from dominating the election process.
Under the new bylaws, the NCBA Board of Directors can approve, reject or amend policy with a simple majority vote. Proposals that pass the Board must be approved in the Membership Meeting with a simple majority vote. Policy passed by the Board can be amended in the Membership Meeting with a 2/3 vote. Also, policy rejected by the Board can be brought back for consideration with a 2/3 vote, and then passed by a simple majority.
The final policies that emerge from the Membership Meeting then will be forwarded to the entire membership by mail ballot. For mail ballots to be valid, they must be completed and returned within 30 days to NCBA's auditors.
Animal Identification
NCBA Policy Closely Follows Key Points of MCA Policy – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association policy on Mandatory Livestock Identification closely resembles the resolution brought forth by The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association during the NCBA Convention in Phoenix. Following are the main points of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association policy, which was passed by members during the MCA convention in December:
Therefore be it resolved, that MCA will support a mandatory universal animal identification program if the following issues and concerns are met:
M&M Cattle Company Wins NCBA Region Three Environmental Stewardship Award
Matt and Denice Mathews, owners of M&M Cattle Company, were selected as Region Three winners of the NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award. The Mathews own and operate a cow/calf operation in Carthage with their five children; Niki, Crystal, Victoria, Stephanie, and Chad. The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) recognizes cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. The recipients of this top U.S. beef industry environmental award are selected by a committee of representatives from university faculty, federal and state government agencies, and conservation and environmental organizations. Congratulations to the Mathews family!
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association News
MCA reception at NCBA Convention in Phoenix a success
NCBA Convention is always a great time to catch up with friends and enjoy great beef, and the Missouri crew took advantage of both opportunities during the Missouri reception. Thanks to the generous support of Joplin Regional Stockyards, MFA Health Track Beef Alliance, and UMB Bank, convention attendees from the Show-Me-State were able to take a break and enjoy great food and conversation. The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association would like to extend our appreciation to convention attendees as well as the reception sponsors.
Membership Update
MCA Membership is growing! As of 2/4/04, we have:
§ 1700 Current Members
§ 479 New Members
§ More new members and membership renewals coming in every day!
Congratulations to the counties and individuals who have been hard at work recruiting new members! Keep up the good work!
Top 10 counties in recruiting new members
1. Bates – 46
2. Dallas – 24
3 (tie). Pettis - 19
3 (tie). Polk - 19
5 (tie). Audrain - 18
5 (tie). Johnson – 18
7. Macon – 17
8. Southwest Cattlemen – 16
9. Franklin – 15
10 (tie). Boone, Crawford, and SEMO Cattlemen – 14 each
Top 5 individual recruiters
Sam Hostetler, Wayne Seider, David Geier, Crawford County Cattlemen’s Association, and the Macon County Junior Cattlemen.
Calendar of Events
February 7-8 Alpha Gamma Rho Classic – Midway Expo Center, Columbia, MO
February 26 MU Beef Cattle Reproduction Workshops
Palmyra – 11:00 a.m. – F&T Livestock Market
Novelty – 7:00 p.m. – MU Greenley Farm headquarters
For more information, contact: Al Kennett at (573) 985-3911
March 13 Missouri Youth Livestock Grading and Judging Contest and Workshop – University of Missouri, Trowbridge Livestock Center
http://www.mda.mo.gov/NewsAndEvents/Press/2004/PR01212004.htm
March 16-18 MCA County Leadership Conference – Columbia, MO
County Meeting Notices
2/7/04 Crawford County – Golden Echoes, Steelville, 6:30 p.m.
2/9/04 Saline County – Stone Hedge Country Club, 6:00 p.m.
2/10/04 Bates County – MO-Kan Livestock Market, 7:00 p.m.
St. Clair County – Blue Inn Restaurant, Appleton City, 6:30 p.m.
The Fine Print
This newsletter is a publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. All rights reserved – this newsletter may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without permission of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. To subscribe to this newsletter, please contact Luke Burbank or McKenzie Keedy at (573) 499-9162 or send an email to cattleinfo@mocattle.com.
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