CATTLEMEN TO DEBATE POLICY AT NCBA CONVENTION

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 13, 1998 -- More than six thousand cattle producers are expected to attend the Cattle Industry Centennial Convention & Trade Show in Denver, Colorado, February 4-7, 1998, to debate and develop national policy that will guide the National Cattlemen's Beef Association on legislative and regulatory issues critical to the U.S. beef industry.

Strong policy will enable cattle producers to continue our legacy of land, family and cattle," says NCBA President Max Deets, cattle producer from Beloit, Kansas. "NCBA policy, brought forward by producers through their local, state, and other member organizations, is the driving force that shapes the association's agenda."

NCBA already has received more than 40 policy resolutions from its member organizations and more are expected throughout the convention. NCBA committees and subcommittees will meet to discuss current issues, develop proposed policy recommendations and set committee priorities. NCBA dues-division policy must then be adopted by a majority of members during the Stakeholders Congress on Feb. 7. Checkoff and joint committees of NCBA and the Cattlemen's Beef Board also will meet at the convention to develop proposals and programs for 1998.

Key government policy issues slated for convention discussion include:

• Tax and Credit. Strategies for additional tax relief will be reviewed and the Alternative Tax Reformation Subcommittee will submit proposals to overhaul the federal tax system.
• International Markets. This committee will review emerging international trade and food safety issues, along with the European ban on cattle produced with growth promotants. Congressman Calvin Dooley (D-CA) will discuss pending fast-track legislation. Other plans to increase U.S. beef exports will be reviewed, and the country-of-origin task force report will be discussed. In addition, Paul Drazek, USDA Counsel to the Secretary for International Affairs, will speak on the Asian financial crisis.
• Property Rights and Environmental Management. Legislative proposals to update and reauthorize the Endangered Species Act, as well as current Clean Air Act proposals, Global Climate Change Treaty negotiations and other regulatory proposals that impact the way cattle producers use their land will be reviewed. Plans to develop an Environmental Enhancement Program will be discussed, and the 7th Annual Environmental Stewardship Award winners will be recognized.
• Live Cattle Marketing. Price discovery, market reporting, cattle futures, proposed legislation to create a dealer's trust and other marketing legislation and regulations will be discussed. Reports from the grading privatization and animal identification task forces will also be reviewed. The committee is expected to develop policy on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange response and evaluation of the cash settlement working group report. A special forum on price discovery will be held Thursday, Feb. 5.
• Cattle Health and Well-Being. Prevention of foreign animal diseases in the United States and elimination of unnecessary animal health-related barriers to trade will be discussed.
• Federal Lands. The status of grazing legislation, the PLC v. Babbitt lawsuit and rangeland reform regulations will be reviewed. This committee will also look at long-range planning issues vital to federal lands ranchers.
• Agricultural Policy. This committee will review the 15th sign-up of the Conservation Reserve Program and will look at current immigration policies.

Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the marketing organization and trade association for America's one million cattle farmers and ranchers. With offices in Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization representing the largest segment of the nation's food and fiber industry.