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Today 4/12/2006 9:54:00 AM
R-CALF: Mississippi, Louisiana Cattle Producers Listen To Industry Updates
(Billings, Mont.) – At recent meetings in Natchez, Miss., and Delhi, La., respectively, more than 270 cattle producers heard updates on issues affecting the domestic cattle industry from both AgWorks Solutions CEO Bill Hawks, who most recently served as USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.
"It is necessary for all segments of the industry to work together collectively, across geographic and commodity boundaries," Hawks said. "I discussed the 2007 Farm Bill, and how we need to develop it so it becomes a tool for the betterment of the cattle industry.
"Producers down south are in need of better markets and more profitability in the industry," continued Hawks. "R-CALF has been working on increasing profitability for producers."
"Now is the time for producers to join together to implement Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) so we can effectively compete in our own market against rising levels of imported beef, and to end the use of captive supplies so that packers can no longer interfere with our competitive markets," Bullard said.
"Producers also need to work together to build safeguards in trade agreements to protect the U.S. cattle industry from import surges," continued Bullard. "We must rebuild our relaxed import standards so we don't have lower standards for products imported into this country than the standards we are subject to for our export products."
Natchez Livestock Auction hosted the first meeting. Owner Jerard Allen said everyone he spoke to afterward said they were very impressed with the presentation.
"We had nothing but real cow people there, too," Allen said. "Bill Bullard is down-to-earth and tells us what we need to know, such as information about animal identification and where our Checkoff dollars are going."
"The response to Bill Bullard in Natchez was similar to what was seen last year when former R-CALF President Leo McDonnell spoke in Louisiana," said R-CALF USA Mississippi Membership Chair Joel Gill. "Last year, producers listened, a few joined, and for the rest of them, Leo had planted the seed.
"In Delhi this year, those people heard R-CALF's message again, and after a year of reflection, they responded with their checkbooks because they realize R-CALF is the only national organization with their interests at heart," continued Gill. "It's through meetings like these that grassroots producers have finally heard the message that's been sweeping through the Plains states these past eight years – that R-CALF is exclusively working for independent cattle producers."
Delhi Livestock Auction and Mark Garrett, a senior territory manager with Pfizer Animal Health's Livestock Division, sponsored the Delhi, La., meeting.
R-CALF USA Louisiana Membership Chair Mike Kovac said Louisiana is basically a cow/calf state.
"As producers become more informed about the issues in their industry, they will want to join R-CALF because it represents their interests – a key message delivered at both meetings," said Kovac.
Delhi Livestock Auction Co-Owner Mack Shelton said Bullard presented a new perspective on issues that impact the U.S. live cattle industry and presented facts relevant to cow/calf operators.
"Having over 160 cattlemen in attendance at the Delhi meeting is a testament to how progressive these area cattle producers are," said R-CALF USA Southeastern Field Coordinator John West. "Producers were unanimous in their support that Mandatory COOL be implemented, as well as the need to establish fair trade agreements while upholding the health and safety standards that have made U.S. beef the safest and most wholesome beef in the world."
R-CALF: Mississippi, Louisiana Cattle Producers Listen To Industry Updates
(Billings, Mont.) – At recent meetings in Natchez, Miss., and Delhi, La., respectively, more than 270 cattle producers heard updates on issues affecting the domestic cattle industry from both AgWorks Solutions CEO Bill Hawks, who most recently served as USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.
"It is necessary for all segments of the industry to work together collectively, across geographic and commodity boundaries," Hawks said. "I discussed the 2007 Farm Bill, and how we need to develop it so it becomes a tool for the betterment of the cattle industry.
"Producers down south are in need of better markets and more profitability in the industry," continued Hawks. "R-CALF has been working on increasing profitability for producers."
"Now is the time for producers to join together to implement Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) so we can effectively compete in our own market against rising levels of imported beef, and to end the use of captive supplies so that packers can no longer interfere with our competitive markets," Bullard said.
"Producers also need to work together to build safeguards in trade agreements to protect the U.S. cattle industry from import surges," continued Bullard. "We must rebuild our relaxed import standards so we don't have lower standards for products imported into this country than the standards we are subject to for our export products."
Natchez Livestock Auction hosted the first meeting. Owner Jerard Allen said everyone he spoke to afterward said they were very impressed with the presentation.
"We had nothing but real cow people there, too," Allen said. "Bill Bullard is down-to-earth and tells us what we need to know, such as information about animal identification and where our Checkoff dollars are going."
"The response to Bill Bullard in Natchez was similar to what was seen last year when former R-CALF President Leo McDonnell spoke in Louisiana," said R-CALF USA Mississippi Membership Chair Joel Gill. "Last year, producers listened, a few joined, and for the rest of them, Leo had planted the seed.
"In Delhi this year, those people heard R-CALF's message again, and after a year of reflection, they responded with their checkbooks because they realize R-CALF is the only national organization with their interests at heart," continued Gill. "It's through meetings like these that grassroots producers have finally heard the message that's been sweeping through the Plains states these past eight years – that R-CALF is exclusively working for independent cattle producers."
Delhi Livestock Auction and Mark Garrett, a senior territory manager with Pfizer Animal Health's Livestock Division, sponsored the Delhi, La., meeting.
R-CALF USA Louisiana Membership Chair Mike Kovac said Louisiana is basically a cow/calf state.
"As producers become more informed about the issues in their industry, they will want to join R-CALF because it represents their interests – a key message delivered at both meetings," said Kovac.
Delhi Livestock Auction Co-Owner Mack Shelton said Bullard presented a new perspective on issues that impact the U.S. live cattle industry and presented facts relevant to cow/calf operators.
"Having over 160 cattlemen in attendance at the Delhi meeting is a testament to how progressive these area cattle producers are," said R-CALF USA Southeastern Field Coordinator John West. "Producers were unanimous in their support that Mandatory COOL be implemented, as well as the need to establish fair trade agreements while upholding the health and safety standards that have made U.S. beef the safest and most wholesome beef in the world."
