HOLDING STRONG IN CHALLENGING TIMES
TSCRA MEMBERS SET POLICY AT FALL MEETING
Cattle Owner Contact Information
(AH-41)
WHEREAS, the USDA-APHIS is proposing an Animal Disease Traceability rule which would require a database of producers who are issued USDA ear tags; and
WHEREAS, several animal health related and other current and future programs may require the collection, maintenance and housing of owner contact information; and
WHEREAS, TSCRA has long been recognized as the state-wide depository of owner contact information relating to brands and brand registrations, and has the single largest database of cattle-related contact information in the state; and
WHEREAS, the use of a single owner contact information database will avoid duplicate effort, errors and confusion among producers;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that wherever possible a single owner contact information database be used for state and industry programs; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that where feasible TSCRA combine the needs of these programs with its brand database.
new 9/30/11
Endangered Species Act
(WL-9)
WHEREAS, in 1973 the United States Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA); and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have broad flexibility to administer the ESA and develop ESA regulations; and
WHEREAS, the ESA has far reaching implications concerning agricultural practices and private property rights in areas where endangered and/or threatened plant and animal species exist; and
WHEREAS, the interpretation and administration of the ESA often exceeds the intent of the United States Congress and lacks appropriate science and economic impact and constitutional property rights analysis; and
WHEREAS, ESA regulatory burdens imposed by the DOI and FWS seriously threaten, limit and/or take agricultural practices and private property rights; and
WHEREAS, TSCRA members own and/or manage millions of acres of private land impacted by the ESA;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that TSCRA urges the United States Congress to amend the ESA and require the DOI and FWS to streamline ESA regulations and better balance comprehensive science, economic development, input from affected stakeholders, and private property rights when determining whether to list, introduce, and/or relocate a threatened or endangered plant or animal species; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that TSCRA supports the ability of private landowners to voluntarily participate in non-regulatory incentive programs in order to comply with the ESA and to be eligible for any tax incentives associated with such programs; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that TSCRA opposes forced perpetual land-use takings, management plans, and easements for the recovery of a threatened or endangered species; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that TSCRA supports stronger legal protections for private landowners that would:
- Provide fair compensation if property rights and/or land is taken under the ESA; and
- Better protect confidential information regarding species presence, data collection, and voluntary program participation; and
- Provide stronger burden of proof and evidence requirements to be placed on those petitioning that a species be listed as threatened or endangered.
new 9/30/11 |
A review of TSCRA programs and plans for adapting
to business in a drought
By Joe Parker Jr.
In spite of the drought and the wildfires this year, and the government uncertainty, TSCRA continues to be a strong organization with a membership that is steadily holding at around 15,300 members.
Law enforcement
Through Sept. 1, Larry Gray and the special rangers have recovered livestock and ranch-related property in the amount of $1,648,000. Recent arrests in a case involving the thefts of 6,000 lambs will add another $1,000,000 to that total.
The special rangers have investigated 539 cases involving more than 10,000 head of livestock. TSCRA market inspectors have inspected almost 3 million head of cattle since the beginning of the year. This is a 15 percent increase, or an increase of just more than 386,000 head compared to last year.
Please focus on those 2 numbers when we get to thinking about projections for next year.
Brand re-registration is going on right now, through the end of February 2012, so this is the time to re-register your brand in Texas.
Government and public affairs
In the area of government affairs, thanks to the planning and arranging of Jason Skaggs, Carmen Fenton, Marissa Patton and Eldon White, TSCRA has had a delegation in Washington, D.C., in June and in September. These visits to our elected representatives impressed on us that never has contributing to the TSCRA PAC been more important than it is right now with the 2012 elections coming up.
Costly government overreach is encroaching into the ranching business. Your support is so very important. If you don't want a lizard or a labor union to put you out of business, then you need to contribute to the TSCRA PAC.
Membership and association services
In the area of membership, Tom Haynie, chair of the Association Promotion Committee, and the Regional Association Promotion (RAP) team leaders have been busy with 9 ranch gatherings since the summer meeting. Several more are scheduled through the end of the year.
The TSCRA monthly luncheon concept, started by Jim Gates in Dilley, has expanded to luncheons and breakfasts in Wichita Falls, Fort Worth and Georgetown.
In the area of education, TSCRA has hosted 12 Cattlemen's Field Days, 7 Beef Quality Assurance meetings, and we have launched a new concept that has become really popular — Ranching 101, which is a great idea. The Young Leadership Series (YLS) has involved more than 200 young cattle raisers in various programs, tours and events.
Communications services
In the area of communications, a concerted effort has been made to increase the distribution of information to members and the public via all channels — print, e-news, email, websites. We think we can get that news to our members and subscribers faster and more efficiently by email. If you want to be included in electronic notices, please be sure we have an email address for you. You'll find a spot for that on your renewal notifications.
Insurance services
Through marketing efforts, we've been able to hold the customer base of our insurance program. We continue to monitor the implementation of the health care reform laws and are working on contingency plans in case these new laws impact our insurance and our partners, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
Impact of drought
Looking forward, your TSCRA officers and staff have been evaluating the impact of the drought on the organization.
Because of the reduction of the herd, and possible further reduction this fall, we are evaluating the results of the decline of income through market inspections. We are also steadily working to reduce any existing liability to the organization, such as changing the old defined benefit pension plan to annuities in the name of the employees rather than the organization.
We expect 2012 to be a very challenging year financially for the organization, and our budget, we expect, will be very tight. We will not have surplus funding for new projects or initiatives, but we feel, as has been done in the past, we will continue to be very active in providing policy input and direction.
Fortunately, TSCRA is a very healthy organization financially, and can absorb some of this impact. However, we will all need to work hard in participation and growth and membership numbers, and we need to support the many advertisers and sponsors who support this organization.
The Book of John, 15th chapter, second verse, says that our Maker prunes every branch so we will bear fruit. He does this in the form of health issues. He does this in the form of recessions. He does this in the form of drought. It is up to us to stay the course and bear more fruit, and enjoy life along the way all the way through.
I challenge you to shake the dust off your slicker, because you're going to need it one of these days, and it's a good idea to know where it is.
THE IMPACT OF AN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT
Executive Vice President's Report
By Eldon White
To serve our members, we need to understand your plans and how you intend to react to this exceptional drought of 2011. We conducted a survey of our members to gather that knowledge and to guide our decision-making about events, programs and where you need us to focus association resources.
That survey told us a few things. We learned a high percentage of you have reduced your herd size. That wasn't a surprise. About 84 percent said you'd reduced your herd size. Those who had reduced had done so by about 38 percent.
What was surprising to me, though, was only about 8 percent of the members at that point said they were going to have no cattle.
What was interesting to me as well was about equal numbers, 12 and 13 percent, said
they were going to decrease the number of cattle they had during 2012, and said they were going to increase the number of cattle they were going to have in 2012, respectively.
A really surprising point that came out of that survey was no one said they were going to go completely out of the cattle business. This is a base sampling of about 1,000 members, but I think it really echoes the heart and soul of the organization and those who are in the cattle business — times are going to get tough, but they are not going to get you down.
Just like you, TSCRA has been adjusting to this new reality of the cattle industry. We are watching the expense very closely. We are in good shape financially. We think as we go into next year, we're going to see a significant reduction in our revenue from market inspections.
We looked at what happened in the past, what TSCRA did going into and coming out of drought years. Market inspections go up significantly through the drought year, and are down significantly after the drought year. We're preparing the budget for that.
We're also very sensitive to the costs of participating in TSCRA meetings and the Convention Weekend. We're trying the best we can to make those expenses as low as possible. You're going to see a little bit of a change to the 2012 TSCRA Convention Weekend, in anticipation of the fact that it's going to be a little tougher for all of us.
We're putting together a high-quality, no-frills kind of convention. We want the quality of our speakers be as good or better than we've ever had, but you'll notice we're not going to have quite the off-site experiences and parties that we've had.
We are working to reduce the expense for the convention and reduce the expense to the members to participate.
One of the things I was most impressed with, when I looked at the results of the drought impact survey, was the many ways each of you are using innovative strategies to deal with the loss of resources on your operation.
The one thing I repeat when I'm interviewed by the media is that our members have been through Indian wars, civil wars, other wars, we've been through fights with government, we've been through fights with nature itself, and we don't quit.
When it rains again, we'll be back in business stronger than ever. Some of those strategies you are using are really poising you to come out of this stronger. The things we're doing internally as an organization are aimed at the same goal. We'll come out of this stronger as an organization, a strong voice where we need a strong voice to represent the cattle industry in the state and the Southwest.
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