B4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 9,1980
DENVER, Co. - Con
tinued opposition to ex
cessive government control
of the beef cattle business
was reflected in many of the
policy positions adopted
recently by the National
Cattlemen’s Association.
Concern about beef
demand and the need for the
proposed Beef Research and
Information program also
were apparent in talks and in
resolutions approved at
NCA’s annual convention in
San Diego.
If beef is to remain
competitive with other
foods, production efficiency
will have to continue to
improve. Resolutions
dealing with marketing and
futures trading were among
other highlights of mem
bership action on policies for
the coming year.
Opposition to burdensome
government controls was
voiced in such areas as
medicated feeds, predator
control, pesticide use, labor
regulations, proposals to
control beef pricing and
reporting, water usage,
private and public land use
and energy production.
NCA committees are
responsible for im
plementation as well as
development of association
policies. Following are
summaries of some of the
resolutions adopted by
members at the 1980 con
vention.
Animal Health
NCA opposes a Pood and
Drug Administration
proposal to regulate mixer
feeders (those who mix feed
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National Cattlemen’s Assoc, opose gov’t control
only for animals on their own
premises, including
feedlots) on the same basis
as commercial units mills
selling feed into commerce.
Members support a sim
plified and separate
regulatory system for
mixer-feeders.
NCA will continue to
review the new Brucellosis
Uniform Methods and Rules
- to be adopted by the states
by Jan. 1,1982 - and will seek
any further changes as
needed. Other new policies
also are aimed at assuring a
sound, workable brucellosis
program.
Intrastate animal
quarantines under “ex
traordinary” conditions
would be imposed under
legislation asked by USDA.
NCA says the proposed
language is too broad, and
that such quarantine
authority should be granted
only for use in event of out
break of an exotic disease
like foot and mouth.
Beef Cattle Research
Members endorsed a set of
research priorities
previously developed by the
research committee. They
are aimed at making beef
production and marketing
more efficient and more
competitive.
Beef Promotion &
Consumer Relations
Recognizing the need to
maintain and improve beef
demand, a growing problem
because of all of the Anti
beef propaganda, the
association strongly en
dorsed the Beef Research
and Information program
Environmental
Management
The association called for
stronger predator control
programs. The group voiced
continued opposition to
unreasonable restrictions on
brush and weed control
agents.
Foreign Trade
Members resolved the
administration of the new
counter-cyclical import
legislation should be closely
monitored. Noting the
potential for more beef
exports, they pointed out
that other countries should
grant a measure of
guaranteed access to their
beef markets, just as the
U.S. guarantees access to its
markets.
On the matter of gram
export controls, NCA will
oppose restrictions on ag
exports except to countries
engaged in activities
threatening our national
security.
NCA re-emphasized the
importance of the right to
work, and the group reaf
firmed its opposition to
compulsory unionism. The
association will work for
protection of agriculture’s
exemption from the National
Labor Relations Act, and it
will oppose any move to
bring agriculture under any
proposed ag labor relations
statute.
The U.S. Department of
Labor, in NCA’s view, has
abused the Farm Labor
Contractor Registration Act,
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The futures markets
continue to be controversial,
particularly in areas without
delivery points. The
membership directed the
board to act as necessary to
determine if the general
membership feels that
futures trading should be
continued.
The association also
adopted a detailed position
aimed at improvements in
the feeder and live cattle
futures contracts, including
more delivery points, limits
on trading in one day,
changes m the delivery
process to minimize adverse
effects on cash markets,
making the delivery unit
more closely reflect cash
market conditions with
further limits on number of
Yield Grade 4's deliverable;
improved surveillance.
Labor
NCA noted threats to the
free enterprise meat
business as a result of
proposed new government
controls. NCA will oppose
government action which
would ban formula meat
trading, impose mandatory
reporting, force electronic
trading or reporting on the
industry, or limit packers to
specific percentages of
slaughter.
designed to protect migrant
workers, and has tried to
apply it to feedlots and other
employers who are not labor
contractors. NCA will seek
necessary changes in the
rules and legislation.
Marketing
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The association said it
would cooperate to the ex
tent possible with the Ag
Secretary and the meat
industry to improve meat
pricing and reporting, within
a free market.
NCA urged USDA to again
make the Packers &
Stockyards Administration a
separate agency. The group
said it opposed feedlot and
packer integration if such
action would constitute
conflict of interest or con
tribute to market dominance
by a firm.
Private Lands &
Water Usage
A statement of livestock
industry water policy in
cludes protection of vested
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water rights and water uses
and state water rights,
which are recognized as
property rights.
Taxation
NCA opposes a proposal to
require income tax
withholding on payments to
independent contractors,
custom operators, etc., who
contract their services to
farmers. The group favors
simplified depreciation rules
and a shorter depreciation
period for certain property.
Transportation
Revising policy on state
truck size limits, NCA urged
that the length limit be not
less than 65 feet for tractor
trailers or other com
binations.