YOUR DUES DOLLARS AT WORK
CALIFORNIA RANCHERS HELP NCBA SET POLICY AND PRIORITIES FOR FUTURE and regulation to end deceptive labeling of ‘fake meat’ From February 5 through February 7, thousands of ranchers from across the country descended upon San • Ensure favorable implementation of the Japan and Antonio, Texas for the annual Cattle Industry Convention & European Union trade deals, the US-Mexico-Canada National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show. Agreement (USMCA) and the Phase 1 China trade Among the attendees were nearly 200 ranchers and allied agreement industry representatives from the Golden State. • Aggressively pursue and defend final rules cementing On Thursday, February 6, NCBA members gathered key regulatory wins, including: in committee meetings for informational updates and to • The Navigable Waters Protection Rule (which debate NCBA policy. On February 7, the NCBA Board replaces the flawed Waters of the U.S. Rule) of Directors voted on the committees’ policy proposals, • Endangered Species Act modernization and establishing interim policy which will be considered and species-specific delistings (such as the gray wolf) potentially ratified at the 2020 Summer Business Meeting in • Favorable Hours-of-Service and Electronic July. Logging Device rules New policies adopted by NCBA membership include • Comprehensive reform of the National international trade policy reaffirming NCBA’s support for Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) voluntary origin labeling and its support for USDA oversight • Favorable BLM grazing regulations rolling back and verification of such voluntary labels; property rights and ‘range reform’ environmental management policy seeking to minimize the impacts upon agriculture of emergent federal regulations CCA will actively work with NCBA throughout 2020 to of chemicals called Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances promote policy priorities that align with policy set by CCA (PFAS); and federal lands policy supporting “off-season membership, including advocating directly to California’s targeted grazing on federal land to assist with prevention Congressional Delegation at the PLC and NCBA Legislative and control of catastrophic wildfire.” Conference in Washington, D.C., March 30-April 2. NCBA’s Board also approved live cattle marketing policy sponsored by CCA and four other state affiliates aimed at improving USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Livestock Sutter Club Mandatory Reporting, intended to provide present market March 25th valuations for livestock. The policy establishes an NCBA working group to identify improvements to Livestock Mandatory Reporting in the leadup to 2020 Congressional reauthorization of the program. In addition to laying out its detailed policy positions, NCBA set out its policy priorities for 2020, including several pressing issues familiar to California ranchers. Those policies include: COME MEET WITH LEGISLATORS & STAFF IN SACRAMENTO!
Steak & Eggs Breakfast
• Advance legislation (such as the Real MEAT Act)
RSVP by March 13th to Morgan in the CCA office at (916) 444-0845 or morgan@calcattlemen.org. More details available at calcattlemen.org/events.
8 California Cattleman March 2020
