Within all discussions, the core question always asked is, “How do we get more people to eat more beef?” This question was the center of all the business decisions made during the 2011 Cattle Industry’s Summer Conference, explained National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Forrest Roberts.

The purpose of the conference, said Roberts, was to come together and make business decisions that drive action over the next six months when the group will reconvene in Nashville for its winter conference. “So as we wrap up our fiscal year in the next few months and head into our new fiscal year on October 1 this is the opportunity to bring all those plans together and where the final business decisions are made. So it’s a very roll-up your sleeves kind of meeting where everyone gets down to work,” said Roberts.

One area they really focused on was the relationship with both the beef industry as well as with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Roberts said the industry expects that to be one of a partnership and that is exactly one that he feels has been demonstrated during the week.

I asked him what the most pressing policy discussions were and he noted that the EPA is a big area of discussion as is trade – both free trade agreements that are pending as well as how to gain access to new markets. Another big issue is GIPSA. The last two months certified Angus beef had the highest volume month on record in history, and that particular proposed rule, said Roberts, would have a detrimental impact on what the beef industry has done in adding value back into the beef industry.

You can learn much more about how the Cattle Summer Industry Conference went by listening to my interview with Forrest Roberts here: NCBA's Forrest Roberts Wraps It Up

Photos from the conference are posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album.