Contact:          Dan McCarty               dmccarty@beef.org                (406) 855-2815

                        Joe Schuele                jschuele@beef.org                  (303) 850-3360

NCBA’s Western Regions to Meet September 28-29

DENVER (August 9, 2007) – Cattlemen from across the western United States are invited to attend a joint meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) western regions, September 28 and 29 in Jackson Hole, Wyo. NCBA Region V includes the states of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming, while Region VI is made up of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Cevin Jones, Region V policy vice president from Eden, Idaho, and Greg Moore, Region VI policy vice president from Wagon Mound, N.M., will chair the meeting.

The event will kick off with a welcome reception and social hour on Friday evening, September 28. Saturday will begin with a general session followed by breakout sessions focusing on cow/calf producer issues. These topics include emerging animal health issues, grazing regulations, and a discussion of the proposed enhancements to the Beef Checkoff Program. A second breakout session will focus on cattle feeder issues, including air quality, manure management, and the impact of alternative fuels on the feeding industry.

The program will conclude with reports from each breakout session, as well as a discussion of PAC contributions and fundraising.

The NCBA Region V and VI meeting is being held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Public Lands Council (PLC). The PLC is an organization of public lands ranchers throughout the West, formed by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, American Sheep Industry and Association of National Grasslands.

The PLC Annual Meeting begins on Wednesday, September 26, and will conclude with a Wyoming Range Tour on September 28^th.  All attendees of the NCBA Region V and VI meeting are also invited to attend the PLC Annual Meeting and the Wyoming Range Tour. This meeting is an excellent opportunity for cattle producers throughout the West to learn more about issues surrounding public land use, and discuss the many challenges public lands ranchers have in common with other cattlemen.

Registration deadline is September 7. A full meeting agenda, along with hotel and registration information, is available at www.beefusa.org, under the “NCBA Events” section.

For more details on the PLC Annual Meeting, please visit: http://www.thepubliclandscouncil.org/plc2/Website.pdf

More information is also available by calling NCBA at 866-BEEFUSA or NCBA Western Field Representative Dan McCarty at (406) 855-2815.

###

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest organization representing America’s cattle industry.  Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry’s heritage and future.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org