Policy Forum Provides Update
NCBA lobbyist reports on past year, looks forward to issues of 2012.
by Troy Smith for Angus Productions Inc.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 2, 2012) — During the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tenn., National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) members attending the NCBA Policy Forum heard a report from Colin Woodall, vice president of government affairs. Woodall heads NCBA’s Washington, D.C., office and serves as the association’s chief lobbyist. He and supporting staffers reviewed issues addressed during the past year and shared a list of priority issues for 2012.
Among the ‘good news’ items Woodall reported was the successful adoption of trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea. He said the agreements bring greater opportunity to serve the growing taste for U.S. beef around the world, while adding value to beef cuts that are less popular among domestic consumers.
Colin Woodal Photo by Troy Smith
Woodall said NCBA actively sought the “roll back” of the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule that would have hindered and perhaps destroyed producer marketing opportunities. He also reported on a successful effort to stop regulation of farm dust.
“There was no scientific justification (for the regulation),” said Woodall. “It just shows how disconnected Washington was from what goes on every day, on agricultural operations.”
Also championed during the past year was a proposal that would have required operators of farm and ranch vehicles to obtain commercial drivers’ licenses. Additionally, NCBA helped to restore funding that could make federal inspection available to horse slaughter plants.
Among issues the government affairs team has prioritized for 2012 is the closing of a loophole in the Equal Access to Justice Act that allows radical special interest groups to access federal tax dollars to pay litigation fees associated with suits such groups bring against the federal government. NCBA is also exploring the most effective way to stop a plan to broaden U.S. Forest Service authority over producers utilizing public lands for grazing.
“But the Death Tax is our number one priority for the coming year,” Woodall emphasized. “If congress fails to act before the end of the year, the tax reverts back to its higher level.”
Since this is an election year and legislators will spend considerable time campaigning, the issue may be delayed until after the election. However, Woodall said one proposed bill does call for full repeal of the tax. Accomplishing that, he said, may be a “heavy lift” this year, but full repeal is the ultimate goal.
Woodall said his team will ride herd on developments associated with a 2012 Farm Bill, paying particular attention to the Conservation Title and any attempts to take money away from valuable programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Also under careful watch will be proposed changes to the Nutrition Title, which accounts for a whopping 77% of total Farm Bill funding.
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