Contact: Anna Hastert, Director of Communications, Iowa Cattlemen's Association, 515-296-2266
This week, Iowa cattle industry leaders voiced our state Association's policy positions at the 2022 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Reno, Nevada. The annual meeting, hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, took place July 25-27.
On Wednesday, Iowa cattle industry leaders engaged in various policy committee meetings. Iowa cattlemen evoked a discussion on 14-day delivery in the Live Cattle Marketing Policy Committee Meeting. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association president Bob Noble presented the following remarks before National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) members:
“We believe that getting fed cattle inventory harvested in a timely manner is imperative and affects market integrity as well as producer profitability,” Noble said. “In the current framework, we hear the farmer/feeder in the Upper Midwest is challenged by leverage to negotiate terms such as consistent harvest dates. Additionally, there are subsequent consequences for the buyer if cattle are not harvested in a timely manner following purchase.”
As Iowa led the discussion, several other states joined in the discussion which prioritized fed cattle delivery. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association offered to lead a multi-state effort to create a regulatory framework that ensures negotiated cattle are delivered within 14 days. The working group will present its plan to the NCBA membership at the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Iowa cattle industry leaders also weighed in on policy concerning the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association proposed an amendment, which supports changes to CRP law. We asked NCBA to support changes that would allow cattle to be utilized for conservation management on CRP acres. Additionally, we would like to see the program function as a working lands conservation program, emphasizing the importance of cattle on the land.
About the Iowa Cattlemen's Association: The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association represents nearly 8,000 beef-producing families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s beef industry. ICA’s mission is “Grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.” www.iacattlemen.org.