Our leaders in Washington might be on a month-long recess during August, but upon their return discussion about the 2012 Farm Bill will be in full swing. Therefore a priority during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference 2011 is to create the policy directives that best represent its National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) members – cattle producers.

Colin Woodall, vice president, government affairs for NCBA, said that this is really their business meeting and this is time they get together and talk a lot about the hot topics in the industry. It is also the time they make sure NCBA’s policy is in place to cover all issues and ensure they can engage accordingly.

“It really is probably the best part of NCBA because this is truly a grassroots opportunity for every member of NCBA to come in and cast a vote on how they think our policy should be set up,” said Woodall.

One of the hottest topics relates to NCBA’s Farm Bill Guiding Principles. Woodall said they need to make sure they have everything they need to engage in the field hearings in Washington D.C. They are in the process of putting words on paper so they need to make sure they understand where their members want them to be on conservation programs, disaster assistance, research and overall government payments.

“So we’re going to do that today in our agricultural policy committee,” said Woodall. “We have a three page document we’re working from and we’re really excited about the opportunity to really discuss where NCBA and the cattle industry needs to be in regards to probably the most important Farm Bill we’ve ever had just given the overall budget nature of the federal government right now.”

The next step is to refine the Farm Bill Guiding Principles and vote on them during NCBA’s conference in Nashville next February. Yet in the interim, NCBA will be taking an active role in making sure the needs of the cattle industry are well heard, understood and represented on the Hill.

Listen to my interview with Colin Woodall here: NCBA Farm Bill Guiding Principles

Photos from the conference will be posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album. Check it often as we add to it over the next several days.