Report Suggests Positive Direction for NCBA Membership Numbers

Membership figures for the first quarter of its fiscal year indicate the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is on course to increase its membership for 2003, according to the chairman of the organization’s Membership Committee.  The first quarter runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31

NCBA is the nation’s largest association of cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.

“We’re encouraged by the increase in the number of NCBA members this year over the same period last year,” said Mark Nelson, an Angus producer from Wilton, Calif.  “Obviously our organization has been successful in Washington, D.C., and across the country, so beef producers can see the benefits we provide to them.  It’s great to see grassroots producers relating to what we do and rallying behind us.”

Membership in NCBA was up 13 percent as of Dec. 31, as compared with the same time period in 2002.  Nelson attributed the increase to stronger membership recruitment efforts and increased knowledge among producers about what NCBA is doing on their behalf. 

At the same time producer membership is on the rise, the NCBA Livestock Marketing Council has continually reported quarterly increases in membership since its inception in 2002.  The Livestock Marketing Council was created to provide a home for auction market operators, dealer/brokers and order buyers within NCBA.  Members receive the resources they need to effectively conduct business and help direct NCBA’s work on crucial government affairs issues.

During the 2002 Summer Conference Meeting in Reno, Nev., NCBA Past President Lynn Cornwell offered a challenge to all members to support a special membership solicitation drive.  The campaign, to date, has raised more than $277,000 for the organization.

Building on this success, NCBA, along with Merial, has just kicked-off its 2003 Membership Campaign.  Merial, the exclusive NCBA membership sponsor for the 12th consecutive year is offering all new and renewing NCBA members free IVOMEC^® 1% Injection and EPRINEX^® brand endectocides.