CATTLE PRODUCERS TO REVIEW CURRENT POLICIES AT CONVENTION

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 14, 1998 -- Beef producers attending the 1998 Cattle Industry Centennial Convention & Trade Show being held Feb. 4-7 in Denver will not only have the opportunity to debate and develop new policy to guide the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, they will also review existing policy on key issues.

"Policy development by grassroots cattle producers and ensuring that all NCBA policy is up-to-date are crucial to the organization's ability to fulfill long-range goals," says NCBA President Max Deets, beef producer from Beloit, Kansas. "Our Centennial Convention is an excellent opportunity for producers to get involved on the national level."

Deets cites several examples of current NCBA policy which will be reviewed:

Food Safety Issues

• Policy CH-26, 1997. "... that NCBA supports increased research funding from the public and private sectors with the objective to continue to provide the American consumer with beef of the highest quality, consistency, safety and wholesomeness."
• Policy Safety-15, 1993. "... NCBA supports irradiation research establishing safe dosage application for beef products."
• Policy S&TR-21, 1995. "... that NCBA strongly supports funding from the public and private sectors for epidemiological research to establish prevalence and incidence of E.coli O157:H7...this epidemiological research in conjunction with risk assessment, be utilized to develop strategies for control measures to minimize risk for human exposure to E.coli O157:H7."

• Policy M-2 1997. "... that NCBA encourages the Justice Department to enforce antitrust laws and ask USDA to enforce current provisions of the P&S Act of 1921 in order to maintain a free and open cattle market."
• Policy M-10, 1996. "... that NCBA calls on the Congress, the USDA and the U.S. Department of Justice to monitor continuously all mergers, ownership changes or other trends in the non-fed beef slaughter industry to determine whether the capitalistic, competitive free-market system is being compromised."
• Policy M-13, 1996. "... that as a possible alternative to current 'formula' marketing agreements NCBA supports further study of a negotiated 'grid' pricing structure, with the base price and spreads determined by competitive bidding between buying interests no more than seven days prior to shipment."

• Policy Safety-1, 1997. "... that NCBA strongly recommends that the USDA investigate the efficacy of the current border inspection process and make the needed changes to ensure the foreign meat inspection system is equal to that of the United States."
• Policy IM-4, 1996. "... that NCBA monitors North America trade flows to assure that trade is fair and equitable in accordance with trade regulations and that economic analysis of trade impacts on this beef industry be continued and timely, accurate and consistent data published."
• Policy IM-9, 1995. "... NCBA seeks rules requiring that U.S. beef be labeled as 'U.S. Beef' to the consumer in the United States and in the country of destination ... the NCBA favors legislation requiring all imported meat and meat derived from live cattle destined for immediate slaughter be plainly labeled for the consumer as to its country of origin."

• Policy FL-3, 1997. "... NCBA requests Congress to amend the Clean Water Act so as to preclude application of Section 401 of the act to non-point sources including range livestock."
• Policy PR/EM-25, 1995. "... that NCBA supports legislation that protects property rights by requiring federal agencies to prepare a takings impact analysis prior to promulgating regulations ... and provides mechanisms for landowners to avoid lengthy and costly litigation."
• Policy PR/EM-39, 1995. "... NCBA urges Congress to amend and revise the Endangered Species Act in a manner so as to provide balance, recognizing the need for economic benefit and the importance of private property rights..."

• Policy T-7, 1996. "... that NCBA strives to decrease the present tax rate on capital gains and the portion to which it applies."
• Policy T-5, 1996. "... NCBA will oppose any proposal to increase the income or estate tax liability of farmers and ranchers; and will oppose any proposal to repeal the stepped-up basis provisions and any proposal to otherwise tax capital gains at death."
• Policy T-5, 1996. "... that NCBA supports the reinstatement of income averaging for agriculture."
• Policy T-11, 1996. "... that NCBA supports the repeal of the current Internal Revenue Code in its entirety and support replacing it with a new, simplified, single rate tax system..."