We’re still on our way there, but about 5,000 cattle producers were in Denver for the opening of the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show on Wednesday, according to Mike Deering with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Mike has been busy live streaming, tweeting (@beltwaybeef), taking photos, posting to beltwaybeef.com and sending out news releases from the event. He tweeted this photo of NCBA president Steve Foglesong at the opening general session.
Foglesong advised the attendees to reflect on 2010 successes but focus on possibilities for 2011.
“Your NCBA didn’t waver to the critics or this administration’s regulatory rollercoaster ride. We buckled down and took them on, which resulted in several wins for U.S. cattlemen. You ladies and gentlemen sat high in the saddle and worked with your NCBA to aggressively defend this industry,” said Foglesong. “The success stories go on and on. As you set forth policy positions this week, I am confident the success stories will continue in 2011. We will go do battle again and again with forces that are aligned against us and our commonsense approach will win again”
Foglesong said the Obama administration’s “regulatory rollercoaster ride” is unprecedented and has the potential to devastate rural America. However, he is hopeful President Obama will carry through with a thorough regulatory review to rein in the Environmental Protection Agency, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration and other government agencies from regulating farmers and ranchers out of business. Foglesong said NCBA’s pressure on the administration to eliminate burdensome, costly and scientifically unfounded regulations assisted in the President’s decision to conduct the review.
Hopefully, your beef blogging team will be on site in time for the rest of the convention tomorrow.