2:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Tucson 36-39 Rooms
NCBA Livestock Marketing Council
Lemmy Wilson, Chair; Steve Owens, Vice Chair

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Council (NCBA) Livestock Marketing Council held it’s annual meeting Jan. 29 at the 2004 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, where members addressed general business as well as industry concerns such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and national identification (ID) systems.

Dick Thompson, Cline Wood Agency, preferred insurance provider, presented a forecast for the coming year, predicting a rise in dealer and market bonds and an increase in business consolidation.

Legal Service Provider, Larry Oldfield, representing Oldfield & Fox P.C., presented the audience with 10 laws to live by, including :
• Loose lips sink ships;
• Cattlemen, ignore legal process at your peril;
• A dead man’s handshake is not worth anything; and
• When in doubt, see a lawyer.

Resolutions were discussed and approved. The first would allow the use of foreign livestock carriers in the shipment of cattle from the Hawaiian Islands to the mainland. The second voiced support of the American Trucking Association efforts to standardize cattle truck weight and length regulations.

Alan Bright, chairman, of the NCBA Animal ID Subcommittee, reviewed considerations regarding a mandatory national ID plan. Bright stressed the importance of a plan in the event of disease surveillance.

Leah Wilkinson, NCBA director of regulatory affairs, informed attendees of new BSE and non-ambulatory cattle regulations and procedures. NCBA director of legislative affairs, Bryan Dierlam talked about the legislative aspect of these issues. All speakers were interactive, answering questions while discussing the issues.

— by Cara Bieroth