4 minute read
Message from the Natural Resources Policy Director
Proposed resolutions for 2023
Have you been curious as to how resolutions & amendments come to the table? Here’s your at a glance guide for ICA’s annual convention process.
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Our Annual Convention is just days away and I hope you have made plans to attend. Like Thanksgiving, ICA’s Convention is a much-anticipated event that comes around every November and is focused on the benefits of gathering together. As grandma may say about the prospect of family coming to her dining table once a year, “the more, the merrier”. Just like at the Thanksgiving table, our association benefits from lively discussion and interaction amongst cattle producers with varying backgrounds and
opinions. I, for one, am looking forward to the reunion-style feel of meeting up with cattlemen and women from around the state and hearing about current industry issues. In addition to hearing engaging conversation and interesting meeting presenters, we will also spend time updating our policy book. The resolutions process is one of the main purposes of holding a convention. We gather so our membership, the cattle producers of Idaho, have an opportunity to review our existing policies and to present new ideas and new direction for ICA to undertake. Our resolutions determine our priorities for the coming year and provide staff and leadership with direction on how to address, improve, or fix issues facing Idaho’s cattle industry.
At our policy meetings at convention, not only do we provide the opportunity to question and review existing policy, we also consider newly proposed resolutions, amendments to resolutions, and sunsetting resolutions. So, what are the issues that we’ll be discussing this year? We have two new proposed resolutions, developed through the ICA committee process for your consideration. These two policies are in response to two very current and hot topics that ICA staff and leadership have found ourselves addressing with increasing prevalence as we represent Idaho’s cattle industry. These resolutions are included below so you can be prepared to come to convention and make your voice heard on these issues:Our resolutions determine our priorities for the coming year and provide leadership with direction...
BY KAREN WILLIAMS ICA Natural Resources Policy Director
RECREATIONAL IMPACTS ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDS (PROPOSED NEW 22)
WHEREAS: As Idaho’s population expands, demand for outdoor recreational opportunities exponentially increases; and
WHEREAS: The increase in recreation has disrupted land management on public and private lands, has adversely affected ranching operations, and has created many challenges which are further compounded by a lack of enforcement and education.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Idaho Cattle Association asks state elected officials and
agency leadership to acknowledge the impacts of increased outdoor recreational pressure and create a task force to enact more meaningful, focused management of recreation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Idaho Cattle Association works collaboratively with other land users and recreational groups to develop solutions to the challenges presented by increased and unenforced recreation.
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (PROPOSED NEW 22)
WHEREAS: Renewable energy project development has been incentivized by the federal government creating an influx of development proposals on Idaho’s state and federal lands.
WHEREAS: The renewable energy projects and associated infrastructure development displace livestock grazing in the short term and have the potential for long term consequences limiting grazing on the land on which the development occurs.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Idaho Cattle Association actively participates in the public processes regarding energy development to assert our priorities regarding multiple use, the economic and conservation value of continued livestock grazing, and no net loss of grazing AUMs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Idaho Cattle Association defer to the locally impacted permittees/lessees and local members to inform our position and approach on site specific proposals.
Do you have any thoughts on these, or other, cattle industry issues? Please come to convention and participate in our resolutions discussions which will occur during the council sessions on Monday, November 14 at 3:30 pm and the Policy Session on Tuesday, November 15 at 10:30 am. In addition to the above proposals, members will vote on whether to renew or sunset several more resolutions that are up for their annual 5-year review. Our resolutions serve as cornerstones for ICA as we have to react and respond to current events affecting our industry. The need for our association to have member-driven, member-approved policy is underscored by the mounting pressures Idaho’s cattle industry faces. If you have questioned our action on any issue, we invite you to come share your thoughts during the resolutions session. Or, if you know of a new issue that you think ICA needs to address, it is not too late to propose policy at convention—though it will need to be brought to the floor by the approval of a 2/3 majority vote. All resolutions will be finalized during the Annual Membership Meeting on the afternoon of November 15 at 3:45 pm. I look forward to seeing you there and hearing your input as we set policy and chart our course for the coming year. You have an important role to play in our association!
CATTLE INDUSTRY CONVENTION & NCBA TRADE SHOW FEBRUARY 1-3, 2023
