Agricultural News
NCBA President Tracy Brunner Offers His Thoughts on Summer Conference
Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:07:19 CDT
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) hosted its summer business meeting in Denver, Colorado this week and overall, NCBA President Tracy Brunner says members and affiliates are feeling fairly upbeat about the industry right now.
Brunner says producers are encouraged by the moisture that has come to cattle growing areas of the country and says that despite some lower prices being felt in fed cattle and beef markets, the industry is still managing to compete aggressively with pork and poultry.
"There's guarded optimism, I guess I'd say, that price-wise we're going through a tough time now," Brunner said. "Hopefully as we go down the road we'll be in a better supply and demand situation. We think we're putting in a bottom right now and a little better times are ahead."
There's plenty to keep cattlemen busy right now according to Brunner who says producers are fighting two fronts right now. While cattlemen continue to rebuild their operations at home after the drought from a few years ago that forced increased liquidation of herds, attention is also being paid to Capitol Hill where issues such as Waters of the US (WOTUS) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) remain unresolved.
Brunner hopes that with an election coming up, a new administration may ease negotiations on the policies being developed that affect cattlemen. He's not leaving it up to chance though.
"We're focusing our interests and our resources into the congressional elections," Brunner said. "We want to make sure we're politically active both in the Senate and House races to help reelect those friends of the cattle industry and also maybe open some doors with some new candidates. We need that understanding of agriculture and the American cattle business on both sides of the aisle."
To listen to more of what Mr. Brunner had to say about the NCBA summer business meeting, click on the LISTEN BAR below.
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