TCFA CONVENTION CONFERS IN COWTOWN ISSUES GALORE TO CONSIDER
By Larry Stalcup | Contributing Editor
W ith strong but jittery cattle markets, the border closed to Mexican cattle, more New World screwworm (NWS) threats, the gov- ernment shutdown and other issues, Robby Kirkland was among many cattle feeders wondering what will be next to impact the feeding industry. Kirkland, outgoing TCFA chairman, was among the speakers at October’s Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) Annual Convention in Fort Worth. He emphasized that TCFA remains steadfast in its lead- ership role in industry efforts to mitigate the growing threats from NWS and other issues that could disrupt cattle production and marketing. Kirkland said many TCFA area feedyards felt the impact of the Mexican border clo- sure after the NWS outbreak. Nearly 1.2 million cattle are typically imported from Mexico per year. But (at press time) the border had been closed since early July. That border halt added to the lowest beef cattle numbers in 70-plus years. Fewer feeder cattle have forced many yards in Texas and elsewhere to feed cattle to higher weights. But quality has not suffered. “Even with fewer cattle on feed, cattle feeders have persevered to keep producing high-quality beef, meeting the demands of consumers across the globe,” Kirkland said. “We have fed cattle to heavier weights, and U.S. cattle producers produce more pounds of beef even with a decrease in the number of cattle harvested.
“This proves the resiliency and ingenuity of every person sitting in this room. We have embraced technology to continue to produce the highest quality, safest beef in the world. It’s a product that American and international consumers continue to buy, despite higher prices at the grocery store.” Concerning NWS, he said TCFA is advo- cating for the construction of new sterile fly production facilities in South Texas, other states and Mexico. The association also supports approval of additional treatment options and implementation of stringent in- spection and treatment protocols to enable the reopening and continued operation of the southern border ports. “We are a founding member of the Screw- worm Coalition of Texas, which works together to prepare and protect livestock and wildlife producers,” Kirkland said.“We serve on the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team, which is jointly led by the Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.” Another featured speaker, NCBA Presi- dent Buck Wehrbein, discussed the major issues facing producers and feeders, and reminisced about his time managing a feedyard in the Texas Panhandle. Wehrbein, a Nebraska native, has managed feedyards in his home state and Texas since the 1980s. After a short stint at a Castro County, Tex- as, feedyard, he became part of the Randall County Feedyard staff.“I grew up in the business at Randall County,” he said.
He worked on various TCFA commit- tees when it was headed by the legendary Charlie Ball and later Richard McDonald. “Richard was as good as it gets in livestock association work,” he remembered, noting that those two and later former TCFA CEO Ross Wilson were among his mentors during his 20 years in the Texas Panhandle.” Wehrbein urged today’s cattle feeders to read Charlie Ball’s book, The Finishing Touch .“Early Texas feeders made many sacrifices for us,” he said.“I have soft places in my heart for this association.” The many issues facing the cattle industry and all of agriculture dictate that crop and livestock producers need formidable voices nationally.“We need someone in Wash- ington looking out for us. That’s where we need NCBA,” he said.“They are such a good representative for us. The policy NCBA follows starts with you and other state cattle associations. It’s truly a grassroots organi- zation. “What TCFA and others do, and what we do at the [NCBA] midyear meeting, is what guides the NCBA staff. We don’t do anything that is not in the policy book. The checkoff doesn’t do anything that is not in the long-range plan.” Concerning President Trump’s trade deals (prior to comments later on Argentina beef ), Wehrbein said,“We’ve actually got Australia to take fresh meat from us, which was supposed to have happened 15 to 20 years ago.”
Outgoing TCFA Chairman Robby Kirkland: “Even with fewer cattle on feed, cattle feeders have persevered to keep producing high-quality beef meeting the demands of consumers across the globe.”
Paul Colman, right, former Cactus Feeders exec, catches up with current Cactus COO Paul Defoor during a TCFA program break.
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