News Update
Feb. 2, 2009

NCBA Members Elect New Officers, Set 2009 Policy Directives

Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) held their board of directors meeting and annual membership meeting today as the 2009 Cattle Industry Annual Convention concluded in Phoenix.This year’s convention and trade show was attended by approximately 5,300 people.

Gary Voogt of Michigan was officially elected to succeed Andy Groseta as NCBA president for the coming year.

Voogt praised members for a successful conference. “I’m so pleased with the high level of participation we’ve had this week,” he said. “Our discussions have been extremely productive and will no doubt set us on a path for success in 2009 and beyond.”

Members also voted on new officers for the upcoming year. In addition to Voogt’s election as president, Steve Foglesong of Illinois was chosen as NCBA president-elect, and Bill Donald of Montana was elected as NCBA’s Vice President.

Newly-elected officials to the NCBA Executive Committee include: J.D. Alexander (Nebraska), Chairman, Federation Division; Scott George (Wyoming), Vice Chairman, Federation Division; Eric Smith (Alabama), Chairman, Policy Division; Tracy Brunner (Kansas), Vice Chairman, Policy Division.

The following individuals were elected as Federation Division Representatives to the Beef Promotions Operating Committee: David Dick (Missouri), Becky Walth (South Dakota), Linda Joy Stovall (Texas), Tamara Ogilvie (New Mexico), Craig Uden (Nebraska), David Hamilton (Nebraska), Helen Weise (Iowa), and Chuck Adami (Wisconsin).

NCBA members also honored two industry leaders who passed away in 2008 — Lynn Cornwell and Steve Hailey. Their lives have touched many people in the beef industry, and they will be greatly missed by all who knew them.

Members bid farewell to Terry Stokes and celebrated his distinguished career as NCBA chief executive officer (CEO). Stokes recently stepped down after 13 years of service, handing over the reigns to Forrest Roberts.

“While we will all miss Terry greatly, we’re looking forward to a new and exciting chapter with Forrest at the helm,” Groseta continued. “I’m confident that Forrest’s wealth of experience, fresh ideas, and intense passion for the industry will raise this organization to even new heights.”
Roberts laid out some of his priorities for the coming year, including his commitment to growing domestic beef demand, expanding access to foreign markets, and protecting the U.S. beef industry from actions that could impede a favorable business climate.

Voogt closed the convention with an outlook for 2009. 

“These are challenging times, but now is not the time to change course,” he said. He cited recent successes, including a 6.7% increase in membership over the past year, as well as the approval by the board of directors of a new and improved governance structure for NCBA. “Our association is the oldest, largest, and most successful national organization of cattle producers. By continuing to speak with a unified voice and our mutual goal of increasing profitability, the U.S. beef industry is sure to continue prospering for years to come.”

For more convention news, visit: www.4cattlemen.com.

— Adapted from an NCBA release.

Slaughter Cattle Pricing Phone Conference for Ranchers Feb. 11

Jodie Pitcock of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock and Grain Marketing Service will explain the relationship between slaughter cattle prices and wholesale meat prices during a telephone conference with ranchers from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The conference call is the third in the lunch-time Beef Information Series scheduled in January and February. The series is being sponsored by Washington State University (WSU) Lincoln County Extension.

Ranchers can participate in this conference from home by calling WSU’s telephone conferencing center in Pullman. Advance registration is required. Because the number of connections to WSU’s telephone conferencing system is limited, registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The registration fee for the series is $5.

Call WSU Extension in Davenport at 509-725-4171 for more information or to register, or download a registration flier at http://livestocktopics.wsu.edu.

Other topics scheduled for the series are “Preventing Baby Calf Scours” on Jan. 29, “Feeding Corn Processing and Ethanol Co-products on the Ranch” on Feb 6, “Carbon Farming to Add Value to the Ranch” on Feb. 17, and “Washington’s BVD (bovine viral diarrhea) Control and Eradication Project” on Feb. 25.

WSU Extension programs are offered without discrimination. For accommodation of special needs, contact Tom Platt, WSU Lincoln County Extension, at 509-725-4171.

— Release provided by WSU Extension.

Niman Ranch Completes Merger

Niman Ranch and its network of U.S. family farms and ranches producing naturally raised meats announced it will merge with an affiliate of its largest shareholder, Natural Food Holdings LLC. 

Following the merger, Natural Food Holdings will own 100% of both Niman Ranch and affiliated specialty pork processor Sioux-Preme Packing, which currently processes all of Niman Ranch’s pork. As a result of this transaction, Niman Ranch will be more efficient, better capitalized and well-positioned for continued growth, including further expansion of its nationwide network of family farmers and ranchers.

“Our mission at Niman Ranch is to partner with U.S. family farmers and ranchers that raise livestock humanely and sustainably, and bring better-tasting, natural beef, pork, lamb and chicken to market,” said Jeff Swain, Niman Ranch CEO. “Consolidating our ownership under Natural Food Holdings will enable Niman Ranch to achieve certain operational synergies, be more efficient, and ultimately better serve our customers nationwide,” added Swain. 

Swain said the merger provides benefits on many fronts. Customers will be able to buy with greater confidence from a financially secure supplier. The Niman Ranch network of U.S. family farmers and ranchers can continue to be paid a premium for upholding the strictest animal-raising protocols in the industry. And Niman Ranch employees will be working for a stronger, more sustainable company, during a time of economic uncertainty.

Niman Ranch will maintain its high standards for animal welfare and sustainable agriculture following this merger. All animals will continue to be fed a 100% vegetarian diet, and there will be no use of antibiotics or hormones — ever. Niman Ranch will continue to work with its network of family farmers and ranchers to raise natural cattle, lamb, pigs and chicken.

“Niman Ranch family farmers and ranchers are every bit as committed to raising animals humanely and sustainably today as in the past” said Jeff Tripician, chief marketing officer and executive vice president of Niman Ranch. “As a result of this transaction, our company is now in a better position to continue to support their efforts.”

— Release provided by Niman Ranch.

Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo Set for Feb. 24-25 in AbileneAbilene’s annual Texas Farm, Ranch,

Wildlife Expo is set for Feb. 24-25 on the grounds of the Taylor County Expo Center, located at 1700 State Highway 36. Show hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 24 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 25. The event is sponsored by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

The show features educational seminars, equipment exhibits, product demonstrations, the Town and Country Women’s Fair, the Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association’s annual meeting and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership luncheon.

The highlight of the luncheon will be the naming of the Taylor County Farm Family of the Year.

Nineteen Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units are offered during the educational seminars. The following is a schedule of events for the two days:

Feb. 24

• 8 a.m., Big Country Range Management, Extension Classroom
  
• 9 a.m., Women’s Fair, Modern Living Mall
  
• 10 a.m., Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association annual meeting and membership luncheon, Big Country Hall
  
• 1 p.m., cotton production outlook seminar, Big Country Hall
  
• 1 p.m ., white-tailed deer seminar, Western Heritage Ranch House

Feb. 25

• 8 a.m., Texas Department of Agriculture re-certification course, Big Country Hall
  
• 8 a.m., Small-acreage landowner seminar, Extension Classroom
  
• 8 a.m., Tools V - Fire as a Tool for Managing Range, Livestock and Wildlife seminar, Western Heritage Ranch House
  
• noon, Chamber of commerce luncheon, Big Country Hall. The keynote speaker will be Tom Sell. Sell is the former deputy staff director for the House Agriculture Committee and currently an associate of Combest, Sell and Associates of Lubbock
  
• 1 p.m., Improved Pasture Management, Big Country Hall

The seminars are free to the public with the exception of “Tools V - Fire as a Tool for Managing Range, Livestock and Wildlife” and the “Small Acreage Landowner Seminar,” which have individual registrations of $25 by Feb. 19 and $35 thereafter.

Tickets for the chamber of commerce luncheon are available at the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, 325-677-7241, for $15.

For more information contact the AgriLife Extension office in Taylor County at 325-672-6048.

— Release provided by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and AgriLife Research.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.