President's Fall Update 2004

NCBA President’s Letter: Fall 2004

Historic Steps to Preserve Our Freedom of Choice
By Jan Lyons

As the colors of fall begin to arrive across America, cattlemen and women are involved with traditional activities of gathering and moving from summer pastures, weaning of spring calves, and processing newly arrived fall calves. And smack-dab in the middle of this fall routine, comes a most historic election which has the potential to impact and send shock-waves throughout our industry and our nation. At stake is our very livelihoods, and those of our children and grandchildren, as this election puts at risk our right to choose how we manage our land and market our cattle.

On November 2, 2004, American citizens will cast their vote for the next President of the United States. As you’re probably aware, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Political Action Committee (PAC) has, for the first time in its 106 year history, publicly endorsed the candidacy of President George W. Bush. Some people wonder why we have never taken such a step before, and why we chose to do so now. To that question, I simply say that never before has the future of our industry been so much at stake. Now is not the time to sit back and watch, as others determine the fate of our farms and ranches, our businesses, our families, and our industry.

The current situation of the beef industry demands that producers exercise their right to choose. In recent months, our industry has enjoyed record high beef prices and strong consumer demand for our product amid a flourishing agricultural economy championed by a strong leader. This fall, beef producers have an unprecedented choice. Never before has one presidential candidate been so clearly opposed to the ideals of our industry while the other defends them so strongly.

This fall, we have the chance to choose between one candidate who opposes agricultural use of public lands, advocating increased government regulation, and another candidate who respects our freedom to manage and preserve the land, recognizing the livestock industry’s vital role in America. As Americans who not only make their livelihoods but feed the world from the land and natural resources of our nation, agricultural producers have the truest motive for cherishing and preserving these precious resources

Amid an economic upswing, we can choose a candidate who favors increased taxing of capital gains, favors the rollback of many recent tax reforms, and is against permanent repeal of the Death Tax. Or, after our families have worked so hard for what we have and endured years or generations, we can choose a candidate who is fighting for the permanent repeal of the Death tax and who worked to enact a tax code that respects small businesses and entrepreneurs.

On a scale like never before, the American public and the media have turned much of their attention to animal health and food safety issues. This year’s presidential race offers the choice between a candidate named John Kerry, who calls for testing and regulation well beyond that pursued by the USDA, regardless of its impact on producers, and a candidate named George W. Bush, who understands that our industry has always worked to make animal health and food safety a top priority in the U.S. The Bush Administration has worked to emphasize the importance of realistic, science-based safety measures that maximize the benefits to consumers and producers alike. For agricultural families, this President appreciates the major role exports play not only in our present, but in our future. With 96% percent of the world’s population living outside the U.S., the Bush Administration agrees that greatest potential for survival and growth in our industry rests on the international consumers and the opportunities that exist outside our own borders.

NCBA is not afraid to take a bold historic stance because it is clearly a choice that is in the best interests of all of us as producers. As individuals, we have the opportunity to take a stand this fall. Take the step to preserve our freedom of choice. Exercise the right to choose a future free of undue government regulations and restrictions. Make the choice that enables cattlemen and women from across the nation to continue making the sound management decisions that have allowed our industry to thrive for generations and that will guarantee these freedoms for generations to come.

The opportunity to vote and engage in our country's electoral process is one of the great freedom's we possess in this country and one of the responsibilities of each of us as an American citizen. It is important that - regardless of which candidates you support - that we visit the polls on November 2 and cast our votes.

For more information on the candidates, go to www.beefusa.org

Best wishes,

Jan Lyons
NCBA President and Kansas producer