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TSCRA Lends A Strong Hand
Where
You Need It Most By:
PROTECTING
YOUR BUSINESS AND LIVELIHOOD. Texas
and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association's force of 28
Special Rangers stationed in Texas and Oklahoma are certified
peace officers commissioned by the Texas Department of Public
Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation with
the authority to search, seize and arrest. About 80 market
inspectors assist the field inspectors by documenting all brands
and markings of cattle sold through the auction barns in Texas.
In 2007,
TSCRA Special Rangers cracked the largest case of cattle theft
in TSCRA's history—involving the theft of 289 cattle worth more
than $289,000. In 2006, they recovered or accounted for nearly
$5 million in stolen livestock and equipment
BEING AN
EFFECTIVE VOICE ON LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES. Articulate, effective lobbyists voice your concerns
directly to key policy-makers at state and federal levels. TSCRA's
focus is directed to all issues that affect the everyday cattle
producer and landowner. TSCRA also uses its extensive media
contacts to keep the message about our industry and the issues
that affect it in the forefront. And, TSCRA's PAC funds are used
to fight for tax relief, property rights, rural health care and
water rights, and against environmental overregulation.
In the 80th
Texas Regular Legislative Session concluded on May 28, 2007,
TSCRA tracked more than 500 pieces of legislation, monitoring
their effect on the cattle business and property rights. TSCRA
worked hard to pass good bills and kill bad bills. Some
highlights of the session:
Omnibus Water Bill. The
passed bill, among other things, gives landowners the right to
lease back land acquired for reservoir designation and continue
with agricultural operations until the land is actually needed
for reservoir construction. It allows the government, when
acquiring land for public projects, to buy a conservation
easement from a landowner that lets the landowner continue
normal agricultural operations.
Transportation.
SB 792,
which
passed, places a two-year moratorium on Comprehensive
Development Agreements, a primary tool used to outsource
construction of roads to private businesses. It also gives local
authorities the opportunity to build their own roads rather than
the Texas Department of Transportation.
Eminent Domain. HB
1495, which
passed, requires the Attorney General to create a Landowner's
Bill of Rights. The proposed document will inform landowners
facing condemnation how the process works and what rights they
have. The Attorney General's office has already asked for help
from TSCRA in developing the language.
HB 2006
was called one of the most significant pieces of property rights
legislation to be passed in Texas. TSCRA and other agricultural
groups worked feverishly to convince the governor to sign the
bill passed by the legislature. It was vetoed. TSCRA will
continue to work for such legislation to be passed in the
future.
Appropriations. Some
of the appropriations included $1 million per biennium for Texas
Department of Agriculture to depopulate and control feral swine;
$850,000 per biennium for Texas Cooperative Extension to study
the effects of grain use for ethanol production on cattle
feeding operations; $1.5 million per biennium to improve
biosecurity to prevent terrorists from introducing foreign
animal diseases at concentrated animal
feeding
operation facilities. Funding for the Texas Animal Health
Commission was increased.
TSCRA
continues to monitor national issues of interest to cattle
raisers. TSCRA members periodically visit Washington, D.C.,
personally meeting with U.S. legislators and government agencies
to present our message on key issues.
Immigration. Because
many TSCRA members depend on immigrant labor to run their
ranches, TSCRA has a vital stake in efforts to reform the
immigration policies in this country. TSCRA supports
immigration proposals to provide agriculture with a stable and
legal labor supply while protecting borders and the nation
against problems associated with illegal immigration.
Fever
Ticks. TSCRA
has asked Congress to fund research on new methods to control
ticks on livestock and wildlife hosts. Failure to control the
ticks would cost the cattle industry $1 billion a year.
Disaster
Assistance. President
Bush signed the agriculture disaster assistance bill, S 1726,
Aug. 13, 2007. Congress had passed a $3 billion package that
included much-needed aid for livestock producers who experienced
losses as a result of natural disasters. But language in the
bill would have left the majority of livestock producers
ineligible. S 1726 corrected that mistake. Disaster relief has
been a top priority for TSCRA and other producer groups. TSCRA
will continue to push for a permanent disaster relief title.
Farm Bill. The U.S. House approved a Farm Bill in July 2007. Of
issue to cattle raisers are the payment caps and limitations on
Farm Bill conservation programs. An adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
cap of $1 million was established for participation in all
programs. Also, a payment limitation of $60,000 per program, per
year was placed on all Farm Bill programs. The Senate has not
yet approved its version of the Farm Bill.
Energy Bill: TSCRA
supports efforts to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign
oil by investing in renewable and alternative energy resources.
But TSCRA does not support the proposed increase in mandates for
corn-based ethanol. This legislation mandates 15 billion gallons
of renewable fuels from feedgrain products by 2015.
Currently, the Renewable Fuels Standard requirements, which
passed as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, require at
least 7.5 billion gallons of production by 2012.
A 15 billion
gallon RFS for feedgrain-based ethanol will deal a serious blow
to cattle producers if we experience anything short of a record
corn crop year after year.
TSCRA took the lead in calling for a study on the impact of increased
RFS on the availability and cost of feed grains.
Country-of-Origin Labeling:
TSCRA maintains that a voluntary country-of-origin labeling
(COOL) system will serve cattle producers best. The mandatory
country-of-origin labeling law promoted by other organizations
is a poorly written law. Its exemptions for poultry, restaurants
and food service, along with excessive regulatory requirements,
make the law unworkable. It would create an economic burden that
would be passed back to cow-calf producers. Placing such a
system on our ground beef products would be very expensive with
little hope of being able to convince consumers to pay more when
they can purchase alternative meats such as chicken that do not
have to comply with the law. The House version of the Farm Bill
will greatly reduce the record-keeping burden on cattle raisers
to verify origin. TSCRA worked with other groups to get this
included in the bill.
Death Tax Repeal: TSCRA continues its longstanding push for full and final
repeal of the Death Tax. Currently, a 10-year phase-out of the
Death Tax to full repeal is scheduled to take effect in 2010,
but the tax is then scheduled to be reinstated in 2011 (back to
2001 levels).
Manure and
Superfund: TSCRA
and other ag groups continue working to support legislation to
clarify the regulation of livestock manure under Superfund laws.
In the 110th Congress now in session, both the House and Senate
have reintroduced bills that would exempt manure from regulation
as a Superfund material.
BSE and Trade: TSCRA believes the best way to achieve long-term
profitability is to increase demand for our product. Policies
that attempt to restrict marketing flexibility ignore economic
realities and slowly smother opportunity for cow-calf
producers. Supporting policies that kill the innovation
necessary to remain competitive against other meats and foreign
market players is not the answer. We must grow demand for our
product, provide a healthy and fair environment to market our
cattle and remain vigilant in the never-ending quest to be the
low-cost producer of high-quality beef to consumers around the
globe. We must remember that only 4 percent of the world's
consumers reside in the United States. TSCRA continues to work
on fair and open trade of live cattle and beef between the
United States, Mexico and Canada.
Animal Identification: TSCRA maintains that any animal ID system should be
designed and implemented using practical methods and
applications. Approved scanning and tagging technologies and
devices must allow the industry to implement the system without
economically burdening the marketing and handling
infrastructure. These systems also must not pose the risk of
additional stress and injury to livestock. Current technologies
and devices don't meet these objectives. TSCRA firmly believes
that management of animal data for the National Animal
Identification System should be privately owned and controlled
to protect producers' records and provide a system that meets
industry needs. Such a privately controlled system can be
managed by the private sector and allow animal health officials
access at any time for disease surveillance purposes.
IMPROVING
BEEF QUALITY. TSCRA
continues its leadership in providing free training for ranchers
through the Texas Beef Quality Producer program. The program
teaches practices that result in a safe and wholesome product
for consumers—the kind of beef you want your kids to eat! Over
4,000 producers have attended this program since 2001.
PROVIDING
MEMBER HEALTH PLANS.
TSCRA has a group health insurance plan for members that is
extremely competitive. It has a low annual deductible,
prescription drug program, mail-order prescriptions,
preventative care co-pays, dental benefits, access to quality
care in rural areas and freedom of your choice of doctors. TSCRA
can also help you get property and casualty, workers'
compensation and life insurance from our preferred provider.
PROVIDING
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. In
1994, TSCRA established an annual School for Successful Ranching
to help both the novice and experienced rancher learn more about
range and pasture management, beef cattle production and animal
health. Over 600 producers attended in 2007. The school is held
in conjunction with the TSCRA annual convention each spring.
CONDUCTING
LOCAL MEETINGS. TSCRA
provides local opportunities for cattle producers to meet,
visit, get some good information and earn CEUs. Non-members are
encouraged to attend the free, casual gatherings to learn more
about TSCRA.
TSCRA is
launching an effort to involve members on a more individual
level by creating "neighborhood membership teams." We have six
Regional Association Promotion Committees, which conduct
regional membership meetings. We are currently establishing
several key neighborhoods in each region, each with a
neighborhood captain. These local meetings will provide an
opportunity for TSCRA to learn of the interests and priorities
of Texas cattle raisers.
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