spring 2015 board of directors not one more...
TRANSCRIPT
1
Cattle Call
Vol. 10, Issue 1 Spring 2015 Board of Directors
Wil Bledsoe, President Hugo, CO (719) 740-1711
Region 5 Director Lorene Bonds, Vice President
Durango, CO (970) 259-3950
Region 4 Director Cody Jolly, Secretary
Hugo, CO (719) 740-1031
Region 4 Director Janell Reid, Treasurer
Ordway, CO (719) 446-5210
Region 1 Director Don Gittleson
Steamboat Springs, CO (970) 879-7632
Region 2 Directors Curt Werner
Merino, CO (970) 522-8822
Dr. John Maulsby
Wellington, CO (970) 897-2878
Region 3 Director
Paul Schmucker
Hotchkiss, CO (970) 872-2517
Region 5 Director
Jerry Koskie
Lewis, CO (970) 882-4464
Region 6 Directors Tom Robb
McClave, CO (719) 456-1149
Mack Louden
Branson, CO (719) 946-5536
Gerald Schreiber, Past President
Woodrow, CO (970) 386-2247
(continued page 3)
NOT ONE MORE DOLLAR Amid calls for Beef Checkoff reform, the push to increase to $2 is gaining momentum.
Although controversy still sur-
rounds the Beef Checkoff Program as
calls for reform have erupted from pro-
ducers across the nation, it seems the
possibility of doubling the checkoff fee
is looming larger than ever.
A Memorandum of Un-
derstanding (MOU), signed
January 20, 2015 by the
Beef Checkoff Enhance-
ment Working Group
(BCEWG) has official-
ly declared the inten-
tion to increase the $1
per head toll to $2.
Pending Congressional
support and Presidential
approval, the measure
would then be submitted to
producers for the final vote.
The MOU also makes provisions
for producers to get a refund of the addi-
tional $1 (the original $1 would be non-
refundable), a process which can be de-
scribed as cumbersome at best.
The BCEWG is currently com-
prised of representatives from eight dif-
ferent industry groups, namely: Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Federation, American
National Cattlewomen Inc., Livestock
Marketing Association, Meat Import
Council of America, National Cattle-
men’s Beef Association, National Live-
stock Producers Association, National
Milk Producers Federation, and United
States Cattlemen’s Association. The
NCBA crafted the MOU and submitted
it to the other entities for approval.
This controversial move by
the BCEWG materialized in the
wake of the departure of both
the National Farmers Union
and R-CALF USA from the
working group. Since leav-
ing the working group, Bill
Bullard of R-CALF has
called the MOU “window
dressing designed to deflect
attention away from the
NCBA’s misappropriation.”
The creation of the
BCEWG itself has also been a source of
contention. According to documents R-
CALF USA obtained by virtue of the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the
working group was sanctioned by Secre-
tary Vilsack, who has since denied both
the purpose of the group and his involve-
ment therein.
Jennifer Houston, the vice-chair
of the Federation of State Beef Councils,
remarked that the MOU was the result of
cooperation from members of the work-
ing group. “This is a true compromise.
2
The Truth Behind Sustainability by Andrea Hutchison Have you found yourself purchasing “sustainable” with
the thought, “Maybe this guilt of trying to stay within my
family’s budget by purchasing non-organic- GMO in-
fused - antibiotic pesticide injected products - will sub-
side?
Choices are great. If you can afford organic go for it. If
you want non GMO, that’s your business. Maybe you’re
a consumer who trust our U.S. food safety standards, sec-
ond to none, that’s awesome. Use that extra cash to buy a
boat or house. Americans have choices. But not for long.
“Sustainability”, the harmless appearing stamp of ap-
proval packaged just for consumers destroys. Producers
cannot comply with regulations stemming from a climate
change agenda. Behind it lives a plan known as U.N.
Agenda 21 Sustainable Development. Freedom is incre-
mentally and strategically evicted and replaced with cen-
tralized control.
As a fifth generation rancher I have witnessed destruc-
tion firsthand. Every economic sector, banking, health
care, energy and education, specifically America’s afford-
able food supply, is being dismantled. From producer to
retail end-users, and everything in between; land, water,
air and animals, the fabric of our food supply is being dis-
mantled. Nebulous terms such as biodiversity, human
capital, and ecosystems are a few of the key identifiers
within sustainability.
Private property rights and sustainability cannot co-exist.
Stripping that ownership, the basis for free markets and
capitalism, is the intent of those advancing Agenda 21.
Efforts to inject environment into all economies within
the U.S. was a plan introduced by the United Nations’
Brundtland Commission in 1983. Hi-jacking and redefin-
ing the word sustainability, honing it into a tool, which
could ultimately be used for top down, centralized control
was the goal.
The Triple Bottom Line or Three Pillars, houses the
regulations in the name of being socially and environ-
mentally acceptable according to extremist’s standards.
Regulatory protocol is determined through destructive
public, private partnerships with radical extremists, Non
-Governmental (NGOs), federal agencies, associations
and foundations and large corporations. Grassroots have
little room at this table.
Skewed research based on the consensus of a few is pro-
ducing flawed science and burdensome regulations onto
food producers. The implementation of 7 Regional USDA
Climate Hubs in 2014 by the Obama administration only
promulgated this top down centralized control agenda.
The result of research based on global warming is limit-
ing consumer choice and creating
higher food prices.
Expansion of the endangered species act has allowed
federal agencies more control over private property, shut-
ting down farming, irrigation and destroying communities
across the nation. Species (plants, insects, mammals)
listed which now number into the thousands can take pro-
ductive land out of use if found on landowner’s proper-
ties.
Within the urban setting Agenda 21 is marching on. Local
governments, especially if they sign up as dues-paying
members of ICLEI (now called Local Governments for
Sustainability), are encouraged to limit what people do on
their own property for supposed benefits to the environ-
ment.
Capitalism and property ownership improve the world
around us, you need only to travel outside the U.S. where
those rights have been infringed to witness the evidence.
We must focus on protecting our constitutional rights and
the sanctity of private property. We must proudly pro-
mote capitalism which will bring about the true meaning
of sustainability: passing liberty, freedom and choice on
to future generations
For more information visit American Policy Center, The
Greatest Hoax, I Love Ag, and Janet Hufnagel Thomp-
son.
This article is cour-
tesy of the New
Mexico Stockman,
March 2015 edition.
3
Legislative Day Annual CICA
CICA members and Board members alike gathered in Den-
ver February 12, 2015 for the Annual Legislative Day. Tot-
sy Rees, the lobbyist for CICA, asked different legislators
to come visit with our group throughout the day. As al-
ways, the event is a good opportunity to present our point of view to legislators
and to catch up with our fellow cattlegrowers from around the state.
One of the chief aims of CICA is to advocate for producers. Guided by the mem-
ber-crafted policy, this organization maintains a presence in the Colorado Legisla-
tive Branch by virtue of Ms. Rees and our yearly Legislative Day.
This year, a freshman Representative, Jessie Danielson (D– Wheat Ridge) took time to visit with us. Having grown up
on a farm outside of Ault, Colo, Rep. Danielson is familiar with the challenges facing small scale producers. Though
she represents an urban population, Rep. Danielson’s appreciation of our standpoint was welcome and encouraging.
Education has been one of the foremost goals of the
Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association since it
was founded. Whether that involves educating the public,
its members, or
youth in agriculture,
CICA has always
served as a vehicle
for disseminating
information and ide-
as.
Every year
the Board of Direc-
tors selects an intern to serve for a 6-8 week period during
the summer, with duties culminating at the Annual Con-
vention. The intern is provided with a grant for further ed-
ucation while also being allowed to enrich their own re-
sume with experience in the cattle industry.
In the past, interns have been responsible for every-
thing from creating invites for the Annual Convention to
drafting press releases for the association. They have the
privilege of listening in on Director
meetings and working alongside
the Board to coordinate the Annual
Convention.
This position, called the Jo-
el Franz Memorial Internship, pays
tribute to a rancher that believed
strongly in educating youth in agri-
culture.
Applicants need to be 18 years or older by June 1st
to apply. The position is mostly comprised of work-from-
home duties. This is a paid internship with great resume-
building opportunities. Applications are available online at
coloica.com and due by May 1st.
“Nothing is more important for the public
weal, than to form and train up youth in
wisdom and virtue. Wise and good men are in my opinion, the strength of the state;
more so than riches or arms.” -Benjamin Franklin
None of us got all of what we wanted.” She went on to jus-
tify the increase in money headed to the Checkoff Pro-
gram, citing the oft quoted statistic that each $1 collected
by the Beef Checkoff Program returned $11.20 in producer
profits (between 2006 and 2013).
In light of the misappropriation of $216,000
checkoff dollars by the NCBA (National Cattlemen’s Beef
Board), one is left to wonder how much more of a return
producers would have seen in a more transparent system.
Not One More Dollar (continued from page 1)
4
President’s Letter
Greetings Stock Growers,
As I am writing this letter, it is encouraging to look out and see some green starting to pop up across the pasture, the cattle mar-
ket is relatively great, and the weather has been mild in nature for calving. Like most of you know, it is hard to find extra time
and energy this time of year to do anything outside of or off the operation; but it’s what we all live and love to do that gives us
strength to get to that time of year when we can catch up on sleep.
Hopefully many, if not all, of you have been made aware of and educated yourself about “sustainability”. Just last month, fel-
low ranchers from “other” state organizations joined in on the “Roundtable for Sustainable Beef” to put their two cents in, and
undoubtedly it will be in full support to set up what we would get to know as “Sustainable Guidelines” for being a cowboy.
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) intends to follow and implement the “Tyson model” within the beef in-
dustry. The model includes three primary points: full chain traceability, third party verification, and continuous industry im-
provement. We all know what happened to the family chicken producers on the “Tyson model”…hog farmers, too.
During our March conference call, after discussion, the CICA Board unanimously voted that CICA establish temporary policy
AGAINST any proposed “sustainable beef” guidelines or any action that could be implemented on the Colorado rancher for the
purpose of “sustainability”.
The GRSB website states, “We envision a world in which all aspects of the beef value chain are environmentally sound, social-
ly responsible and economically viable.” It further states they do not plan to mandate anything, but rather collaborate through a
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI), which is a set of principles for sustainable beef farming that McDonalds has already
publicly stated they are committed to.
These principles include no appropriate medical procedures (including castration and dehorning), no branding, full traceability
of individual animals and feedstuffs, and allowing cattle to “express normal, non-harmful, social behaviors and should have the
company of their own kind (unless isolated on veterinary advice).”
Tracey Hunt, a self educated “sustainability” guru from Wyoming, stated, “What this means for you is full-chain traceability
with full radio frequency ear tags being put in at birth. They then believe that they hold a big enough share of the market that
they can compel you to do whatever else they want or they will deny you market access with your cattle. This is because once
full system traceability is in place they literally have the keys to your chicken house.”
Hopefully you can fully understand and agree with the Board’s temporary policy position on being actively involved in oppos-
ing guidelines that may place even more burden on producers down the road; producers that have already proved for multiple
generations they are “sustainable” beef producers. The board hopes to set more defined and concrete policy at our annual con-
vention with the input of all of you. Speaking of which, I am glad I remembered to remind you to book your vacation time for
July 17-18. We need you at our 10th Annual Convention in La Junta, so you can join in on this discussion and many others. I
say it with confidence that it will be well worth the trip, and we plan on making it the best one yet, so see you then!
As always, if there are ever any questions, ideas, thoughts, concerns, or…even praises, feel free to contact any of the Board
directly. You can find all our information and current items at our website www.coloica.com.
Blessings to all and happy calving!
Wil Bledsoe
P.S. If any of you have someone in mind that might want to be our intern, please direct them to our website for more infor-
mation. The deadline is May 1.