MARKETING
2004 - MONTANA COOL RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED: that Montana Cattlemen’s Association supports a Montana Country-of-Origin Labeling law. 2004 - SUPPORT THE CAPTIVE SUPPLY REFORM ACT AND BAN ON PACKER OWNERSHIP
WHEREAS: the economic well being and profitability of Montana’s livestock production industry depends on ranchers receiving an honest and competitive price at the terminal or slaughter cattle market.
WHEREAS: the concentrated purchasing power of a handful of meatpacking firms creates a dysfunctional market characterized by an absence of competition and control of fat cattle supplies by meat packing firms.
WHEREAS: meatpacking firms artificially depress the price paid to U.S. ranchers through the use of cattle they either own or control through forward contracts –known as “captive supplies.”
WHEREAS: the Captive Supply Reform Act, sponsored by Senator Mike Enzi, would require a fixed base price in marketing contracts and require that all cattle be bid in an open and public manner.
WHEREAS: the Ban on Packer Ownership sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley, would prevent packers from owning cattle for over seven days prior to slaughter.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: Montana Cattlemen’s Association supports the Captive Supply Reform Act and Ban on Packer Ownership and encourages Representative Denny Rehberg, Senator Conrad Burns, and Senator Max Baucus to support restoration of market competition to the livestock industry by co-sponsoring the House and Senate versions of these bills. 2004 - SUPPORT NLMA AND WORC IN BEEF CHECKOFF SUIT
WHEREAS: the National Livestock Market Association, and the Western Organization of Resource Councils have filed and pursued a law suit challenging the constitutionality of the Beef Research and Promotion Act of 1986. Said suit now set for hearing before the Supreme Court of the United States, and WHEREAS: the Montana Cattlemen’s Association perceives that the original intent and purpose of this act has been subverted by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to the point where the act no longer serves the needs of the American Cattle producer, and in fact appears to have become an improper source of funding for the NCBA and. WHEREAS: the NLMA and WORC have borne the expense and stress of this action on behalf of the production sector of our industry, then, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Board of Directors of the Montana Cattlemen’s Association be authorized to take such action as they deem necessary and appropriate to provide aid and support to the two above named organizations in their efforts in this issue. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: Montana Cattlemen’s Association delegation to R-CALF USA informs that organization of our action here and request that R-CALF USA join us in extending their support to the above named action. 2005 - BEEF CHECK-OFF
BE IT RESOLVED: Montana Cattlemen's Association will lead a nationwide referendum to amend the National Beef Promotion Act to make such Acts responsive to grassroots family cattle producers. This is NOT an effort to kill the program, but rather an effort to make the program better. Specifically, MCA is suggesting the check-off program be amended to include the following: 1. Check-off dollars be used to promote only USA beef from cattle born, raised, and processed in the United States of America. 2. A periodic vote on the check-off program (every five years) 3. Prohibit any one cattle organization from serving as the "prime contractor" for the program, but allow all cattle organizations to participate in approved projects on a case-by-case basis. 4. Reform the National Beef Board to reflect proportional representation from all national cattle organizations. 5. Allow for check-off expenditures to protect USA beef and cattle from unfair trade practices and to protect the U.S. cattle herd from import practices which threaten cattle herd health and beef consumers. 6. Allow check-off expenditures to promote branded products from small and large packing entities. 7. Provide that 70% of all funds collected remain in the state where collected, and 30% to the National Beef Board. 8. Provide an exemption for producers contributing equal or greater funds into a private sector self help effort. 2005 - BEEF CHECK-OFF #2
BE IT RESOLVED: Montana Cattlemen’s Association encourages legislation that prohibits any Anti-U.S. cattle groups from being a contract agent of the federally mandated check-off. Said groups include organizations that oppose trade investigations into trade practices that negatively affect U.S. cattle producers or oppose Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL), or that support liberalization of import standards below internationally practiced standards. 2006 - BEEF CHECKOFF RESOLUTIONSResolution #1: BE IT RESOLVED Montana Cattlemen’s Association opposes the beef checkoff increase to $2 per head. Further, 50¢ of the current $1 assessment must stay in Montana. Resolution #2: BE IT RESOLVED Montana Cattlemen's Association agrees that changing the Federation of State Beef Council's name to the Beef Checkoff Federation is a step in the right direction. But to truly enhance its identity the council needs to be a stand alone organization with its only intent being directing the spending of Checkoff funds in a manner consistent with the Act and Order, completely severing ties with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, except as a contractor with no greater weight than any other contractor.
2006 - INTERSTATE SHIPMENT OF STATE INSPECTED MEAT
A resolution from the Montana Cattlemen's Association urging the Congressional Delegation of the State of Montana to work to support H.R. 6130, a bill to create the “New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Actsolution from the Montana Cattlemen’s Association urging the ”, and the companion bill S. 3519. If enacted, these two pieces of legislation will allow for interstate sales of state-inspected meat products. WHEREAS agricultural producers in the United States are subject to stringent food safety and inspection laws; and WHEREAS 1967 and 1968 Meat and Poultry Acts prohibit state-inspected beef, poultry, pork, lamb, and goat from being sold across state lines, while allowing the interstate sales of "non-amenable" products such as venison, pheasant, and rabbit; and WHEREAS currently, Montana operates under an “equal-to” inspection system where state inspectors use federal guidelines in inspecting meat products to ensure food safety; and WHEREAS under the Talmage-Aiken Act of 1962 there are cooperative agreements in 10 states where state inspectors are allowed to carry out federal inspection duties in 258 plants; and WHEREAS interstate meat shipments would allow small, rural packing facilities to compete in larger niche markets thereby creating competition by providing Montana’s cattle producers alternative markets for their products; and WHEREAS the membership of MCA believes that differentiating their product provides an essential tool to maintain profitability in the cattle industry, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the membership of the Montana Cattlemen's Association urges the Congressional Delegation of state of Montana to work to pass H.R. 6130 and S. 3519 thereby allowing state-inspected meat products to be sold across state lines. 2006 - A RESOLUTION OF THE ROSEBUD CONSERVATION DISTRICT ESTABLISHING CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT OF THE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (AFO) AND CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (CAFO) RULES WHEREAS rules are in place for AFO and CAFO operations; and WHEREAS rules are enforced in an inconsistent manner; and WHEREAS agencies are subjective in their interpretation of rules; and WHEREAS operations can be found compliant one year and noncompliant the next; and WHEREAS producers are hesitant to come forward due to the inconsistencies in the application of AFO/CAFO rules; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that rules need to be consistent and once compliance is reached, further rules will not be enforced on the AFO or CAFO.
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