TSCRA Members Discuss Policy, Plans at Summer Meeting
More than 200 Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association members and families visited Grapevine, June 14 to 16, for the Summer Meeting. The TSCRA standing committees passed two new policy resolutions and updated a handful of existing policies to remain current with the issues.
"My report at this meeting will sound very much like the report I gave at the convention," said TSCRA President Dave Scott, Richmond. "TSCRA remains in good financial shape. Our membership numbers are up, thanks to the good work of the Association Promotion Committee, the special rangers and all the members who recruited new members."
Scott reported that TSCRA's membership is at its highest level since June 2008, topping 15,000 member families and ranching businesses.
Criminal investigations are also up from this time a year ago, he reported. The TSCRA special rangers had investigated more than 300 cases by the June meeting, and had recovered property valued at $1.4 million, year to date. "This is about $300,000 ahead of recoveries this time last year," Scott reported. Market inspectors were also busier than this time last year, having inspected the brands and identifying marks on more than 1.5 million head by the June meeting.
"In our government and public affairs area, groundwater continues to be our No. 1 issue," Scott explained. TSCRA is working to build a strong coalition with other landowner groups, namely Texas Wildlife Association and Texas Farm Bureau, and other groups, to represent landowner rights in the groundwater debate that is sure to be held during the 2011 session of the Texas Legislature.
TSCRA continues to monitor issues on the federal level, including the estate tax, the Clean Water Restoration Act, the cap and trade issue and other important issues.
One of the highlights of the first half of 2010 has been ranch gatherings. TSCRA members and sponsors have hosted 14 ranch gatherings since the beginning of the year. "Ranch gatherings take the association to the members and the members seem to enjoy the chance to visit with their neighbors. We started out with small crowds at the first of the year, but we've ended up with 200 to 400 attendees at each gathering," Scott said. More ranch gatherings are scheduled for the fall.
Resolutions
Animal Disease Traceability
(AH-40)
WHEREAS, TSCRA has been in the cattle identification business since 1877 and today maintains a very efficient and effective cattle identification system that serves an important function for Texas cattle producers; and
WHEREAS, TSCRA continues to be an industry leading organization on animal identification issues; and
WHEREAS, intrastate and interstate animal identification plans are being developed for the purpose of establishing a means to ensure animal disease traceability; and
WHEREAS, the goal should be to enable the cattle industry, state and federal animal health officials to respond rapidly and effectively to animal health emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the industry is placing renewed emphasis on preventing the introduction of foreign animal diseases of concern; and
WHEREAS, U.S. beef exports to certain countries have suffered due to the absence of an animal disease traceability program; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Animal Disease Traceability Framework does not eliminate the need for continued brand inspection programs; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that TSCRA be at the forefront of discussions on any animal disease traceability program(s) requiring animal identification, and maintain that any such regulations, imposed at the state and/or federal level, adhere to the following criteria:
1. Additional costs to the beef and dairy industry must be minimized.
2. Any information relative to cattle identification information should be under the control of state animal health officials and kept confidential.
3. The system must operate at the speed of commerce.
4. The priority livestock for participation in the framework is the individual identification of adult cattle.
5. Producers must be protected from liability for acts of others after cattle have left their control.
6. The purpose of the animal disease traceability system should be solely animal disease surveillance, control, and eradication. The only data required to be collected should be that necessary to accomplish this goal.
7. Support the flexibility of using currently established and evolving official identification methods.
8. Full compliance with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and Codex Alimentarius Commission international standards for animal identification and traceability.
9. The animal data management system does not replace or impede existing TSCRA brand inspection activities.
new 3/10/04, revised 10/2/09, revised 6/18/10
Farm Vehicle Distance Restriction
(LT-31)
WHEREAS, current federal and state motor vehicle laws restrict livestock and farm operators who are operating their farm equipment, not for hire and without a commercial driver's license, for transporting their livestock or farm products in excess of 150 miles; and
WHEREAS, this 150 mile restriction is very impractical, especially in times of drought and other emergency and disaster situations;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that TSCRA supports a change in federal and state motor vehicle laws to remove this 150 mile restriction.
new 6/18/10
Surface Water Quality
(NR-44)
WHEREAS, ranchers are good stewards of surface water and take pride in making sure it is abundant, safe, and high in quality; and
WHEREAS, TSCRA advocates responsible land use that helps to ensure good surface water quality and provides many educational programs for its members on best management practices; and
WHEREAS, ranchers are potentially subject to severe land use regulation under the federal Clean Water Act;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the use of sound science in the development of surface water quality standards, including total maximum daily load (TMDL) rules, is critical to the development and implementation of proper surface water regulatory policies and programs; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that TSCRA supports the establishment of surface water quality standards, laws, regulations, and rules that have landowner input, are based on sound science, place an emphasis on voluntary management practices, protect water quality, and sustain economic development.
new 6/18/10
"TSCRA Members Discuss Policy, Plans at Summer Meeting" is from the September 2010 issue of The Cattleman magazine.
