Agricultural News
Ross Wilson Applauds Cattle Feedlot Efforts to Increase Negotiated Cash Trade
Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:20:11 CDT
These are challenging times for cattle producers. The industry is trying to correct the surplus of cattle in the U.S. right now. While producers do not agree on every issue, they gather at various association conferences and conventions to stay up to date on the latest goings-on.
Reporting from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Convention going on in Oklahoma City, Okla. right now, is Ron Hays, director for Radio Oklahoma Ag Network. Hays spoke with Ross Wilson, Texas Cattle Feeders Association president and CEO, about what TCFA members are talking about at this year's convention, starting with talking about the 75% Plan.
"The industry is working hard to see if we cannot fix this on our own before the focus pivots to a government mandate," Wilson said. "I think we will have great reservations about trying to work with the current administration and leadership in Congress to create a meaningful mandate of any kind."
Wilson acknowledged cattle producers are facing issues when it comes to price discovery, market leverage and transparency. He said TCFA leadership has urged members to participate in the 75% Plan.
"The jury is still out," Wilson said. "Our guys have done a really good job of meeting the goal of roughly 10,000 head a week in negotiated trade, but there are some changes that need to happen."
From a cattle feeder's perspective, Wilson said there need to be changes made to the way livestock mandatory reporting is done to ensure industry data is as acuate as possible. The latest extension of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 expired Sept. 30, 2021, putting the statue up for reauthorization by Congress. Wilson said, this is an opportunity to clearly define the different types of trades that happen in the cattle market.
"Just last week, the House Agriculture Committee marked up and voted out (the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021)," Wilson said. "Conceptually that is a great idea, but the devil is in the details. If we do not get that right, based on conversations that our members and staff have had with people in the pork industry, you might actually be giving the packers more information and more leverage than the feeder."
With a career spanning 37 years, Wilson announced that he is stepping down from a leadership role and into an advisory role within TCFA. In 1985, he joined TCFA as government affairs director, going on to become vice president and has been the president and CEO since 2006.
"It has been a wonderful career," Wilson said. "I could not have imagined a better group of people to work for and with."
He is looking forward to staying involved and hopes to make a positive contribution to the beef cattle industry in his new role.
"After 37 years, it is time to turn the reins over to an incredibly bright and competent person," Wilson said.
Ben Weinheimer is set to take the reins effective Jan. 1, 2022. Weinheimer is currently serving as the vice president for TCFA.
Hit the LISTEN BAR below to hear Ron Hays and Ross Wilson discuss the future of the cattle industry, whether the 75% Plan is the answer and why cattlemen and women should be wary of looking to the federal government to solve this problem.
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