The Federation of State Beef Councils, according to a media release from Tuesday afternoon, has enacted a process to define a more independent structure. Conflicting opinions have been exposed both internally and externally this year in dealing with the relationship between the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Federation.
According to the Federation:
A producer-led Federation Structure Working Group, appointed by Federation chairman Scott George and vice chairman David Dick, met in Denver Aug. 30-31. The group consists of seven Regional Vice Presidents, Federation directors and beef council executives from 10 states.
This group met as a follow-up to a resolution passed by Federation directors during the cattle industry conference in July calling for the Federation to “…operate in a more independent structure while maintaining the synergies and efficiencies of the current relationship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association…”
The working group has identified principles it believes support an independent Federation structure, while also retaining operational efficiencies found in its 14-year relationship with NCBA.
Today, via a webinar conference call, the working group shared its preliminary recommendations with Federation directors and beef council executives.
The next step is to share the draft recommendations with USDA, in order to gain feedback.
Following a feedback period and development of final recommendations, Federation directors are expected to vote on the matter in February 2011, during the cattle industry convention in Denver.
They tell us that this process is still in its very early stages and that the appropriate approvals from producers and the USDA are yet to be obtained.
© Northern Ag Network 2010
Haylie Shipp
