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| DENVER (July 16, 2015) – More than 600 cattle producers are gathered for the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver this week to help set direction for industry programs. The event includes meetings of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Cattlemen’s Beef Board, American National CattleWomen and National Cattlemen’s Foundation. Among the purposes of the yearly conference is to create a framework for checkoff and policy efforts on behalf of U.S. cattle producers for 2016. The conference kicked off today and will conclude with the board meetings on July 18.
“This has been a great year for cattlemen and women, and the optimism for our industry shows at this meeting,” said NCBA President Philip Ellis. “With great prices and moisture across much of cattle country, spirits are high.” A Checkoff Program update started the meeting this morning, providing those attending for CBB or NCBA Federation an overview of programs being conducted to increase consumer demand for beef. The Conference’s opening general session gave attendees a glimpse of the industry’s proposed Long Range Plan 2016-2020 and included an industry overview from CattleFax. Rollout of the Long Range Plan will be discussed in a meeting open to all conference participants from 4-5 p.m. Friday afternoon. “Through the industry’s Long Range Plan, we will aim to grow beef demand and continue to build on consumer trust in beef,” said Ellis. “These core strategies developed for the beef industry gives us a platform for growth for the next four years.” Checkoff committees and subcommittees representing Convenience, Freedom to Operate, Global Growth, Beef’s Image, Market Research, Taste, Value and Nutrition and Health will begin this afternoon, and continue their discussions through Friday morning. At the same time, NCBA Policy committees, representing Agricultural and Food Policy; Tax and Credit; Cattle Health and Well-Being; Federal Lands; Cattle Marketing and International Trade; Property Rights and Environmental Management will be meeting. “This is the meeting where the work of the association is done by our producer leaders and state affiliates to set the policy path for the year ahead,” said Ellis. “Through these committees, members will review and renew expiring policies and bring forward new initiatives to give direction to our team in Washington.” NCBA’s seven regions will hold caucuses Friday morning from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. At these sessions members from the regions will be able to discuss issues of specific concern. Separate board meetings will be held Saturday morning, July 18, for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and NCBA Board of Directors, rounding out the week’s meetings and events. |
Source: National Cattlemen's Beef Association
