Agricultural News
Meet New NCBA President Philip Ellis of Wyoming
Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:53:33 CST
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has a new leader. At the last day of the Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, Texas, the reins were passed from outgoing President Bob McCan of Texas to Philip Ellis of Wyoming. Ellis is a fifth-generation rancher from southeast Wyoming where he has a commercial cow calf operation. Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director, Ron Hays interviewed Ellis at the Cattle Industry Convention about the year ahead. You can listen to Ron and Philip by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
In looking at the year ahead, Ellis has two federal government policy concerns among his top priorities for the year. First being the U.S. 'Waters of the U.S.' (WOTUS) rule proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. Ellis said we still need to get the WOTUS rule withdrawn before it becomes an obstacle to producers. The interpretive rule was recently withdrawn, but he said the concern remains with the main 'WOTUS' rule. Ellis said calls 'WOTUS' a regulatory obstacle that is getting in the way of families on the nation's farms and ranches.
The second big issue is the nation's dietary guidelines will come out in 2015. There is concern that beef could be left off the guidelines. Ellis said that's troubling because these guidelines are used for the nation's school lunch program and the guidelines influence the dietary concerns of consumers. Ellis said NCBA's policy team in Washington D.C. has been closely following this as they knew there was the potential the scientific panel that reviews the guidelines might recommend reducing the amount of lean beef in the daily diet. Ellis said is concerned that this is not healthy and they will be looking out for the protein needs of all families in the U.S.
NCBA also wants to see Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) passed. In order to keep multi-generational ranches together, Ellis said trade is the future and the U.S. need access to the global protein market. He is excited that NCBA may be able to work with this administration to reduce trade tariffs and enhance trade this year.
The nation's aging farmer and rancher population also remains to be concerning with producers averaging around 58 to 60 years old. In looking at the future of the beef cattle business, Ellis said the opportunity is there with the good market prices and he is hopeful that will there will be young people involved. Ellis said he is thankful to have a nephew that is interested in taking over their operation and with six grandsons and grand nephews, he said they all anxious in having a role.
"I also meet along my travels, a lot of other people interested in agriculture and interested in beef cattle that are not from generational ranches and want to get involved," Ellis said. "Maybe the opportunity there's for them to do that now, hope so."
At the Cattle Industry Convention, NCBA's had two votes on the future of the beef checkoff. Both the Federation of State Beef Councils and the policy division of NCBA voted to accept the Memorandum of Understanding released the Beef Checkoff Working Group. Ellis said beef promotion, research and education needs to be funded appropriately, which has been difficult with the $1 per head assessment and shrinking U.S. cowherd numbers. With that said, Ellis is confident in the success of the program established under the 1985 Act and he said producers need to enhance that act.
"It's something the organizations involved have been working for over three years," Ellis said. "I do think it is a way forward, as we move through this process and its a long arduous process, but a process to enhance and resource our program and maintain our popular program that beef producers like."
In opening the 1985 Act to make these adjustments, that could bring more amendments to the bill. Ellis said that is a concern, but in order to increase the assessment that will have to be done legislatively. He said if we can keep everyone working together, he believes they will be able to mitigate that concern and is hopeful they can move forward carefully and diligently.
Ellis is a fifth-generation rancher who stewards a family business and range resources that his ancestors settled on Bear Creek in southeast Wyoming in the 1880s. The ranch operation has evolved from a Hereford seedstock and summer yearling operation to a commercial cow/calf and stocker operation over the last 20 years. Ellis began volunteering in the cattle industry more than 30 years ago, starting with Laramie County Stock Growers Association. He has been active in the Wyoming Stock Growers Association where he has served on committees and as committee chairman as well as President from 2003 to 2005.
Ellis is a graduate of the University of Wyoming. Before returning to the ranch full time in 1987, he worked as a farm and ranch lender in Cheyenne, Wyo., for several years. He has served as President of Chugwater Economic Development, Inc. and the Platte County (WY) Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Trail Bank and Chairman of the Chugwater Valley Church Council.
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