February 5, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Two Days of Producer Education Headlines Cattle Industry Convention

Terry Haughian Kinsey Montana San Antonio Cattle Industry Convention

Kinsey, Montana rancher, Terry Haughian, participates in a Cattlemen’s College Session on Water Issues of the U.S. on Wednesday, February 4

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The Cattle Industry Convention kicked off with two days of producer education on Feb. 3-4, 2015. Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health, has become widely known as one of the most thorough, in-depth educational events offered to cattlemen and women in the country. Celebrating its 22nd year, the event saw outstanding attendance with more than 1,350 attendees.

Hands-on cattle demonstrations kicked off the event Tuesday night, highlighting how beef producers can add value to their market cows. Industry experts, including Dr. Gary Smith, Dr. Keith Belk, and Dr. Dale Woerner, explained how cattlemen can improve the quality, consistency and competitiveness of beef produced from market cows through management decisions on the farm or ranch. Later, attendees were treated to some southern hospitality at a reception sponsored by Certified Angus Beef.

Also, as part of the industry effort to increase producer education, the checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance program introduced and updated Cattle Care and Handling Guidelines at the Producer’s Forum Tuesday evening. The guidelines, which are industry-wide standards for cattle care and handling, now include the 2014 BQA supplemental guidelines, advice on cold stress management, and guidelines for the judicious use of antibiotics in the cattle industry.

“Cattlemen take great pride in properly caring for their livestock and the BQA program has proven very successful in providing guidelines that producers can adapt to fit their needs,” said Josh White, director of producer education for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “This refreshed handbook provides additional information with updated graphics and a revised look.”

Cattlemen’s College started back up early Wednesday morning with a keynote address by Chef Mike Erickson, who is a champion at connecting consumers to how beef is raised. Erickson advocates for the beef industry and dedicates his time to teaching others in culinary about how beef gets from pasture to plate.

“I think it is important for people in the culinary world to understand how beef is raised and get to know the people who spend their lives producing such a fine product for us,” said Erickson. “If those of us preparing the beef are educated on how it is raised, we can help spread the positive story of beef. The cattle industry has so much good going for it and we have to get that message out to people.”

Throughout the day attendees could choose from a wide range of informative, hands-on educational workshops designed for cattle operations of every size and sector. Classes ranged from understanding the economics of rebuilding the domestic herd, land and water rights issues in the United States, to proper cattle nutrition and the future use of antibiotics in food animals. Each session delivered stimulating and thought-provoking information to help cattlemen and women generate higher returns back home on the ranch.

For more information about the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show visit www.beefusa.org and follow #CIC15 and #BeefMeet on Facebook and Twitter.

February 4, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Cattlemen Gather in San Antonio for the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention

National Cattlemens Beef USA logoSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – More than 7,000 cattlemen and women from across the country are registered to attend the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show, which kicked off today at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. The convention, which will run through Feb. 7, is the largest annual gathering of the beef industry.

NCBA President Bob McCan said this year’s convention in his home state of Texas is will not disappoint. “I’m happy to welcome everyone to the great state of Texas and San Antonio is a historic town full of culture and great sights. This week we will highlight some of the great successes of the past year and set the course for what lies ahead,” McCan said. “Today, Cattlemen’s College kicked off convention with over 20 different classes, kick starting a great week with many opportunities for cattlemen and women to hear directly from the experts about how to grow and improve their operations.”

This year the Trade Show will be the largest to date. On the Trade Show floor will be two education areas, including a demonstration area with live animals to provide hands-on instruction. NCBA’s Learning Lounge is back again, featuring 30-minute educational sessions to provide attendees valuable educational tips from industry experts in informal, face-to-face, technology-friendly classroom settings.

Following Cattlemen’s College, exciting keynote speeches at the general sessions, and a record-breaking Trade Show, convention goers will have the opportunity to attend committee meetings and take part in the grassroots policy development.

“It’s important now, more than ever, for producers to get involved and engaged in the public policy,” said McCan. “The strong grassroots policy process is the backbone and the strength of NCBA and this week will discuss important policy issues and lay the groundwork for the year ahead.”

With so many events taking place during the convention all attendees are encouraged to download the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention app to their smart phones to see the schedule of events, locations, maps and receive alerts before, during and after the event. Visit www.beefusa.org for more information about the convention, and follow #CIC15 and #BeefMeet on Facebook and Twitter.

January 5, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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NCBA’s Cattlemen’s College Lineup Set for Feb. 3-4 in San Antonio

National Cattlemens Beef USA logoDENVER — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Cattlemen’s College, now celebrating its 22nd year, has established a reputation as one of the most thorough cattle producer education programs in the nation. Sponsored by Zoetis, the 2015 edition of Cattlemen’s College offers a wide range of informative, hands-on educational workshops designed for cattle operations of every size and sector.

The program will be held Feb. 3-4, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas, headlining the first day of activities at the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. Early registration for Cattlemen’s College and the convention ends Jan. 9, 2015.

Cattlemen’s College workshops include an outstanding lineup of industry experts during the course of two jam-packed days. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, participants will first hear from Gary Smith, Keith Belk, Daryl Tatum and Dale Woerner on “Feeding to Increase the Quality, Consistency, and Competitiveness from Market Cows.” This first hands-on class will help attendees improve the beef from market cows, identify production practices and learn value concepts from feedlot to retail.

On Tuesday evening, Cattlemen’s College participants will be treated to a Texas BBQ Welcome Reception sponsored by Zoetis. The reception will be an opportunity to visit with fellow cattlemen as well as the afternoon’s speakers.

Starting Wednesday morning at 7:00 am, Cattlemen’s College classes begin with a keynote address by Scott Neal, Senior VP, Produce, Meat and Seafood for Walmart. Neal will address how Walmart perceives increasing beef prices, expanding exports, increased focus on sustainability, world-wide growth and how today’s Walmart customers view beef.

Following Neal’s address, classes focusing on rebuilding the herd, the future of beef production, and many other valuable topics will be held, concluding with lunch session, with legendary farm broadcaster Max Armstrong. Armstrong will talk about how in his view from nearly forty years as a broadcaster, it’s a great time to be in the beef business.

“Cattlemen’s College gives producers an opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in topics that impact their cattle operations every day, as well as the chance to interact with those experts and ask questions,” said NCBA President and Texas cattleman Bob McCan. “Many of the presenters are legends in the beef industry, and the wide variety of classes offers something for every producer. We highly encourage cattlemen and women to take advantage of this informative and educational program.”

Cattlemen’s College registration information, as well as a complete schedule for the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show are available online at www.beefusa.org.

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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy.  As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or [email protected].

August 28, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Cattle Health and FDA rule changes for antibiotics labeling | Podcast

MSGA 2nd Vice President, Bryan Mussard, helped attendees learn more about the services MSGA offers Affiliate members across the state.

MSGA 2nd Vice President, Bryan Mussard, helped attendees learn more about the services MSGA offers Affiliate members across the state.

On today’s podcast, we’ll follow up on discussions held during the recent summer cattle industry conference held in Denver Colorado. In this section we’ll focus on several issues related to cattle health.

The Cattle Health and Well-Being committee passed policy regarding foreign animal diseases, which could cause a widespread quarantine and possible massive depopulation of the U.S. cattle herd. A resolution was passed to oppose the importation of live cattle, beef, and/or beef products into the U.S. from foreign countries with histories of significant chronic animal diseases and lack of strict animal disease control and eradication measures.

This committee also focused on discussion and explanation of changes in FDA rules regarding feed through antibiotics use in livestock production. This would include label changes on antibiotics, feed additives and veterinary feed directives, which would make access to these medications more difficult for ranchers. MSGA’s 2nd Vice President, Bryan Mussard from Dillon attended the meeting and has more comments in the podcast below.

Conference attendees also had the opportunity to receive an update from CattleFax senior market analyst, Kevin Good, which described the industry as transitioning from a liquidation to an expansion phase. Good said the industry is accelerating the rate of expansion, and “it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of the trend.” However, while the fundamentals are “friendly,” he said, “the market will have a correction.” And that correction could be soon. “Something needs to give,” he said. “You have to be prepared for that ceiling.”

Bryan also provides us with a great take-home message coming out of the meetings in Denver which should serve as an encouragement for Montana ranchers working with MSGA. Find out more about these topics in the podcast below, and be sure to listen to parts 1 and 2 shared in posts earlier in the week.

August 27, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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EPA changes to Waters of U.S., Beef Sustainability and Checkoff Increases | Podcast

solar filled water tankOn today’s post we follow up with a podcast from the recent summer cattle industry conference held in Denver, Colorado. A broad range of issues were discussed at the meeting, but the subject drawing the most conversation was EPA‘s proposed changes to the Waters of the U.S. rule. We provided a preliminary analysis of the proposed rule changes in an earlier blog post. Click here to read more.

Ariel Overstreet-Adkins, who has been working on comments for the issue on behalf of MSGA, attended the meeting and shared a few comments. “Some of the major concerns the panelists brought up are some of the same concerns we’ve had while looking at this proposal. These include the broad definition of tributary, the change of definition of adjacent to include all waters and not just wetlands, and a really undefined catch all of other waters. Across the board, this rule seems to increase uncertainty, even though the EPA says they’re trying to make things more certain. We believe this is going to be costly for many industries across the U.S. and not just agriculture.”

The Property Rights and Environmental Management committee members also passed a resolution to lead the development of a beef sustainability program, inclusive of the beef value chain and stakeholders, which addresses the continued advancement in areas such as economic viability, production efficiencies, animal care and handling, environmental conservation, human resources and community support. MSGA believes this is a positive move for the industry to establish and verify sustainable practices most ranchers already utilize.

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board and Committees concerning the Beef Checkoff also held meetings while in Denver. One of the highlights of those meetings comes from a working group looking at the proposed Checkoff increase to $2 per head. Several industry groups are working together on a proposal for changes.

Listen to the podcast below for more on these topics. This is just the second portion of our podcast covering the recent summer industry meetings in Denver. Stay tuned for our next podcast where we’ll talk about important policy issues discussed during the meetings, including cattle health issues including disease concerns surround the import of foreign beef and changes to the FDA’s antibiotic labeling rules. We’ll also find out more about CattleFax’s outlook for the cattle industry.

August 26, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Importance of Being Involved at the National Meetings | Podcast

tucker hughes stanford - msga presidentEach year, leaders from across the cattle industry meet for a summer meeting in Denver, Colorado as another opportunity to discuss important issues and to vote on policy guiding the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Cattlemen’s Beef Board. This year, Montana ranchers had a strong showing as several members of MSGA leadership made the trip to represent our members and voice our concerns during the meetings. For the next few days, we will hear from some of those Montana ranchers and their perspectives on the meetings.

Today, we hear from MSGA’s President, Tucker Hughes on the importance of being involved and present at the national meetings. “The whole officer team attended several meetings up so we share what we learn with staff and leadership,” describes Tucker. “Being involved in these discussions lets us answer questions and be informed, accurate, and articulate when we talk with our congressional delegations about the issues with the facts in front of us.”

We also hear from a Past President of MSGA and current NCBA Region V Vice President, Tom Hougen of Melstone. “Summer conference gives us a real opportunity to discuss issues that affect not only Montana, but also the western states I represent. I have learned over the last 2.5 years that issues affecting Montana also affect all of the Western states. Issues at the forefront seem to be driven by environmental groups, the government with EPA and the Endangered Species Act. Those organizations or agencies are, whether they mean it or not, affecting our ability to ranch. Involvement with NCBA gives us a stronger, more unified voice in Washington D.C. and the ability to work together to try to save our ranches for our children and our grandchildren.

Listen to the podcast below for more from these Montana ranchers. This is just the first portion of our podcast covering the recent summer industry meetings in Denver. Stay tuned for our next podcast where we’ll discuss important policy issues discussed during, including EPA’s proposed changes to the Waters of the U.S. Rule, industry-wide efforts to improve sustainability beef checkoff increases, and cattle health issues including disease concerns surround the import of foreign beef and changes to the FDA’s antibiotic labeling rules.

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August 8, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Cattle Producers Discuss Policy Priorities at Industry Summer Conference

National Cattlemens Beef USA logo(The following is a press release from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association)

Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association addressed current policy priorities at the 2014 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver this month, passing new resolutions and directives for the 2014 Policy Agenda.

“Our policy committees are tasked with a broad spectrum of issues, with everything from environmental regulation to nutrition policy to trade barriers on the agenda,” said Bob McCan, NCBA president and Victoria, Texas, cattle producer. “Cattle producers gather from across the country to discuss the biggest issues facing the cattle industry right now and make specific decisions on how to move forward on these priorities.”

Along with revisions to current policies, NCBA members analyzed the overall state of the industry in one-on-one discussions with top government representatives, trade officials and other industry leaders.

“Right now, priority issues include the EPA’s proposed waters of the United States rule, tax reform and ongoing international trade issues,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall. “We are engaged in a long list of policy priorities all year long. After the meetings in Denver, NCBA’s D.C. staff is headed back to Washington, ready to hit the ground running with the list of recommendations and policy updates.”

In the Property Rights and Environmental Management committee members passed a resolution to lead the development of a beef sustainability program, inclusive of the beef value chain and stakeholders, that addresses the continued advancement in areas such as economic viability, production efficiencies, animal care and handling, environmental conservation, human resources and community support.

The Cattle Marketing and International Trade Policy passed a resolution for NCBA to support changes to Mandatory Price Reporting. Accurate and detailed market information is imperative for sound decision making, and the directive calls for support of changes to ensure the data reflects the market place.

And NCBA’s Cattle Health and Well-Being committee passed policy regarding foreign animal diseases, which could cause a widespread quarantine and possible massive depopulation of the U.S. cattle herd, thus compromising national security and jeopardizing the U.S. beef supply. As such, a resolution was passed to oppose the importation of live cattle, beef, and/or beef products into the U.S. from foreign countries with histories of significant chronic animal diseases and lack of strict animal disease control and eradication measures.

Further, NCBA urges USDA to include U.S. cattle industry stakeholders in any negotiations with foreign countries relating to efforts that may affect the health of the U.S. cattle industry and provide the U.S. cattle industry opportunities to comment on new procedures for developing risk analyses for any foreign country with significant chronic animal disease issues wishing to export live cattle, beef, and/or beef products into the U.S.

USDA protocols should be substantiated by sound, scientific evidence and that animal health related regulations not be used as non-tariff trade barriers.

All of these policies from the committees were passed by the full NCBA board of directors.   The official NCBA Policy Book is a detailed compilation of policy priorities on cattle industry issues. The full NCBA 2014 Policy Agenda can be found online at: www.beefusa.org.

March 6, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Are You a Young Rancher in Montana?

Join the Montana Young Stockgrowers Association!

If you are a young rancher in the state of Montana, consider a membership to the Young Stockgrowers Association. It’s a great way to meet your peers from across the state, learn from veteran MSGA leadership, and take part in several priceless opportunities during the year…from events to conferences. This group is made up of young ranchers, folks involved in the cattle business, students, and those who just want to meet new friends.

The Young Stockgrowers Association meets at both the Annual Convention in Billings and at the Mid-Year Meeting. Throughout the year, there are local YSG meetings, YSG-hosted events like the Cattle Crawl and Legislative Conference. Lacey Sutherlin – Stevensville – is the chair of the YSG during 2014 and Travis Brown – Sand Springs – is vice chair. Both would be more than happy to answer any questions or help you to get involved in YSG.

Travis had the opportunity to attend the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville last month as was mentioned earlier this week in his KRIRM Leadership feature. Today he’ll share with us a few more highlights from the trip.

Cattle Convention Perspective from Young Stockgrowers

Travis BrownIn February, at the CIC, I had the opportunity to attend on behalf of the Young Stockgrower Committee, and what a convention it was.  There was tremendous excitement for the beef business as cattlemen from across the country gathered in the midst of the highest market we have ever seen.  My personal favorite part of the convention is the trade show, the industry’s largest, and is all held within the massive Gaylord Opryland Hotel.  Businesses from across the country come to display the newest technologies in the industry, meanwhile there are live cattle demonstrations going on in the background, it is truly a sight to see.

Another highlight of the convention, and of particular interest to Young Stockgrowers are the Cattlemen’s Colleges, sponsored by Zoetis.  There are several different speakers brought in from all over the United States to discuss issues facing all parts of the beef business from the ranch gate, to the grocery store, and even around the Washington DC Beltway.  It is truly interesting to see what Millennials, consumers age 20-30, are interested in as they develop their tastes and preferences and how beef can meet their demands for the future.  Millennials are the largest generation, even bigger than the Baby Boomers, and making sure that they choose beef as their go to source for high quality, delicious, and nutritious protein will make a big difference.

Lastly the speakers and the cattle industry convention are absolutely incredible. From speakers about leadership like Capitan Phillips and Archie Manning to in-depth perspective from the true experts in the industry during the CattleFax Update there is great information to be heard.  There are some unique challenges and exciting opportunities facing the beef business as this winter draws to a close and everyone is looking forward to calving.

Find out more about the MSGA Young Stockgrowers program at mtbeef.org.

January 27, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Everything you need to know before traveling to 2014 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville

Cattle Industry Convention 2014 NCBA Trade Show Nashville TNThe 2014 Cattle Industry Convention held February 3-7 at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee (location information), is expected to be the largest ever with over 5,700 preregistered attendees. With everything that is packed into the schedule, it is important to be aware of events taking place before you travel to Nashville.

All the information you will need for preparation and events information is listed online (full schedule here). Be sure to download the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention mobile application for all your information on the go. Just search for “CIC2014” in the app stores. The official hashtag to keep track of CIC on all social media platforms is #BeefMeet. Be sure to mention MSGA on Twitter (@MTStockgrowers) and Facebook.

Here are the highlights from the agenda for the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention:

Delta B will be the hub for everything you need at convention – Registration, Information, Nashville Tourism and Restaurant Guides, charging stations and technology center. There will be Wi-Fi available in all meeting locations.

Registration is still available online (On-Site opens at 6:00 a.m. daily). Kiosks will be available for check-in for all preregistrations. There will be no hard-copy materials for registration – the bar code on your name badge is the key to all events and information. There will be a ribbon bar where you will need to pick up all identifying ribbons for events during convention. These will not be included in your registration materials.

For Montanans at CIC, be sure to attend the Montana Stockgrowers Social on Wednesday night, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., in Cheekwood G/H. DuPont sponsors the event. Also, catch Northern Ag Network’s Russell Nemetz on Thursday morning as he emcees the Best of Beef Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. in the Presidential Ballroom. The Padlock Ranch, Montana and Regional Environmental Stewardship Award winner, will recognized at different events throughout CIC and is up for the National award.

The Cattlemen’s College takes place on Monday night and Tuesday starting at 7:00 a.m. with 19 presentation available for hands-on and classroom experiences. Highlighting these will be McDonald’s Vice President, Bob Langert, discussing the “Global Sustainability of Beef.”

The Trade Show is SOLD OUT with over 300 vendors and 5.7 acres of exhibition space. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Montana Stockgrowers Association crew in Booth #1815. Stop by and visit us as we bring a little piece on Montana to the Show. Trade Show hours are Tuesday (5:00 – 8:00 p.m.), Wednesday and Thursday (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Blue and Gold will take over the Trade Show on Thursday as FFA youth will be invited to attend.

Opening General Session takes place at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday featuring Capitan Richard Phillips and the Peterson Farm Brothers. General Session II will feature Archie Manning’s discussion on leadership and hopefully the proud dad of a super bowl championship.

On Wednesday beginning at 8:00 a.m., the CattleFax seminar takes place. Unlike previous years, this Outlook seminar is now open to all CIC registrants without a separate ticket. Following the CattleFax seminar will be a discussion on the Architecture of Consumer Demand. The panel discussion will consist of perspectives from a food blogger, chef, the distribution chain and Wendy’s. The topic will center around “reaction to a recent industry scan on consumer buying trends for beef.”

Entertainment will be alive and well again this year at CIC as only Nashville and do. On Wednesday night, the Viva Nashvegas party takes place with live entertainment in the Opryland Events Center. Thursday night, Cattlemen and women will take over the Opryland for an exclusive show from Diamond Rio, John Conlee, Sarah Darling, and more. Cowboy’s Night at the Opry will be followed by the Red Solo Cup After-Party in the Gaylord Opryland.

For Young Producers at CIC, there will be a YPC Social on Tuesday from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. and the YPC meeting takes place on Wednesday from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Collegiate events include a Roundtable discussion and Career Fair on Thursday. American National Cattlewomen meetings start on Monday at 8:00 a.m. and continue throughout the week.

Business and Policy meetings and discussion takes place at CIC on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The Region V Caucus meeting takes place on Wednesday from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. in Ryman Ballroom A/B/D/E. Friday morning the Joint CBB & NCBA Federation Board of Directors, Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and NCBA Board of Directors meetings start at 7:30. a.m.

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American National Cattlewomen Beef Promotion
January 13, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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What Is Leadership Within the Beef Industry?

Are you attending the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville next month? Montana Stockgrowers will be at the Trade Show! Stop by and see us while your there. Also catch up with MSGA’s Lauren Chase as she participates in the ANCW Roundtable discussion on Thursday.

American National Cattlewomen Beef Promotion Cattle Industry ConventionWe all know that there are many ways to get involved in the beef industry. You could own a farm and raise cattle; or be a salesman for a livestock health company; or become a large animal veterinarian; or even serve as leadership on your local, state, and national cattlemen and women’s boards. Your path in life is what you make it, but it doesn’t hurt to have some help and advice along the way.

Help is here!

At the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, the American National CattleWomen are hosting several wonderful events for young people including a Roundtable discussion for Collegiate members to learn about leadership within the beef industry. This hour-long session will cover topics like effective leadership skills, pitfalls to avoid, ways you can better the beef industry and many more.  You may even recognize a few of the discussion leaders… like yours truly!

The event will be Thursday, Feb. 6 from 11:00 am – 12:00 and is sponsored by SelectForce, Inc.

Please feel free to contact ANCW or me if you have questions regarding this event: Contact ANCWAmerican National Cattlewomen logo

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