FROM DAVE’S DESK DAVE MAPLES Executive Vice President First, welcome to Cow Country News if you are a first-time reader. This is a bonus issue that is being mailed to 20,000 Kentucky Beef Farm Families. I hope that you enjoy this edition and find information that would be interesting to you and your business. Also, we would like to extend an invitation to join the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and receive Cow Country News each and every month. I, like most of you have a strong passion for the cattle industry. That is all that I have really ever known. My Dad is a cattleman my granddad was a cattleman, and, my brother is a cattleman. My entire family is involved in the cattle business in some form or fashion. Working for a trade association like the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association keeps you on your toes when it comes to the many different issues. Most of the issues we deal with have two sides and many veering options. The organization works hard to try to build consensus on the varying topics. But consensus does not please everyone all the time. Our industry is in an important time on several issues that could have long term effects on the way that we conduct our business as cattlemen. The two issues that are top of the list today are the way our industry markets fat cattle. Do you sell to the packers on a grid marketing arrangement or on a cash or negotiated trade basis? This topic has been the only action item on the NCBA live cattle marketing committee for several months now. I wish that those of you that have a grief with NCBA could witness the stress
that the committee members are under because everyone does not agree. This process will go through committee, then the board, and then the organization will follow with policy. With a very close vote one would expect the issue to stay top of mind until-- well, a very long time. The other issue is the Beef Checkoff. It is amazing how much animosity one dollar per head has caused our industry for 35 years. It is the weapon that organizations and individuals use to get back at each other. It has been challenged in the Supreme Court, District courts and just about any court that would hear a case. Most often the issue is not about the work that the checkoff is doing, but someone with a grievance with another beef organization. Now you have the anti-beef organizations like HSUS and PETA joining in and funding the legal battles. So, whose fault is it. Like you, I know that cattle prices have been less than the prior year for six years in a row. But when you look at the date since 2014 our industry has added 6 million head of cattle to the inventory and have added only nominally to the harvest capacity. Including pork and poultry the protein supply is at record levels. What is nice about the beef complex is that beef demand is strong and the consumer has demonstrated that they like beef. Price is cyclical and a reflection of supply and demand. We are in a tough business with lots of twists and turns that require risk protection in several forms. To survive you have to be flexible and make some changes in your business model.
East Tennessee Polled Hereford Association Selling 49 Lots!
Bulls | Cow-Calf Pairs |Bred Heifers| Open Heifers | Commercial
www.easttnpolledhereford.org | 423.337.1383 COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020
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