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NCBA is NOT a Friend to Family Ranchers
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is no longer the friend of family ranchers, according to Lee Pitts, author, commentator and longtime supporter of regional production and economies. NCBA was once the friendly lobbyist and educator for family ranchers across the nation, the originator of the familiar slogan: "Beef: It's What's for Dinner." Since 1985, producers have had to pay a government- mandated $1-per-head (checkoff) fee on cattle sold in the U.S. to help fund advertising, education and research programs. Most of that money... about $70 million... goes to the NCBA.
But in the 21st century, things have changed. You might call it the "Wal-Mart-ization" of the beef industry. Pitts wrote a scathing article in a recent Livestock Market Digest describing the NCBA as a "Goliath" in bed with a handful of multinational packers who now control 70 percent of the U.S. beef market (up from 26 percent in 1980) and wield huge influence with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA). USDA and NCBA employees are interchangeable, according to Pitts. In fact, Chuck Lambert, a former NCBA staffer is now chief economist for the USDA. But coming out of left field and striking some painful blows against Goliath is little "David," represented by R-CALF, now the fastest growing livestock organization in the country.
Oregon cattle producer Margene Eiguren explained why members are dropping out of the NCBA like flies and joining up with R-CALF: "NCBA and USDA are representing meatpackers and retailers as... cattlemen. The NCBA does NOT represent U.S. cattle producers. NCBA is a political cover group for the meat-packing industry. R-CALF (USA) is the representative of U.S. cattle producers. It is through their efforts coupled with other livestock and farming organizations as well as consumer groups who have fought tirelessly to bring about country of origin labeling (COOL) of all meat. Don't lump the true cattle producer with the NCBA. We are NOT part of them. They are in fact our enemy."
Among the reasons domestic producers are fed up with NCBA is their strong support of NAFTA, the World Trade Organization and every other trade deal that allows multinationals to search the world and buy cheap. Pitts says, "The NCBA wants to impose an industrialized global food system, controlled by a handful of powerful and politically connected corporations, whereas R-CALF is trying desperately to save the independent family ranch. R-CALF is fighting against special interests in Washington DC and believes those special interests have taken over the country. NCBA represents those special interests."
USDA was recently embarrassed when R-Calf exposed the fact that it was secretly allowing banned Canadian beef (ground beef, sausages, frozen dinners) in after the domestic mad cow scare. "To say that we erred in process is correct," said an Agriculture Department undersecretary, William Hawks.
Pitts describes the relentless battle R-CALF has waged against the NCBA and the USDA to demand country of origin labeling in the wake of mad cow outbreaks in various nations. The only cases of mad cow found in the U.S. were in Canadian livestock. According to numerous polls, 80 percent of Americans would like to know where their meat is coming from. Many Mexican cattle are fattened on chicken manure, for example, and some folks find that extremely distasteful. Congress passed the COOL law in the 2002 Farm Bill and labeling was supposed to go into effect this year. However, due to intense protests from the multinationals who wish to buy anonymous beef from anywhere, President Bush in January signed a bill delaying implementation of COOL to 2006. Now several congressmen are attempting to put COOL back in place as it was originally intended and R-CALF is drumming up support, Pitt says.
Meanwhile, a coalition of small organizations, led by the Nebraska-based Organization for Competitive Markets, has filed a suit challenging the government's mandatory checkoff fee which lines the pockets of the NCBA, and working to start its own voluntary program.
Says Pitts: "On more and more ranchers' scorecards R-CALF is ahead on points and the knockout blow will come when the Supreme Court takes away NCBA's checkoff cash."
Note from New Mexico rancher Laura Schneberger: One and only one livestock publication in America is telling the story and carrying the water for the grassroots, family cow/calf operator. Livestock Market Digest has been exposing the politics of corruption that now threatens the existence of the family cattle operation for many years. The Digest has exposed itself to a campaign of retribution from big NCBA supportors, big packers and their minions. The Digest has survived despite a campaign designed to get large advertisers to boycott the paper and deprive it of its lifeblood. But it has survived and its editor, Lee Pitts, continues to tell the story. It is now time for those of us who care about the future of the industry to step up to insure the viability of Livestock Market Digest. It's very simple: subscribe to this paper today and share its stories with your neighbors. To subscribe for one year send $15.95 to: Livestock Market Digest, P.O. Box 7458, Albuquerque, NM 87194 or call 505/243-9515.
Payson.cc © 2004 Carrol Cox
Payson Arizona Editorial and Opinions on National USA / World / and Local News Issues