RFA Ethanol Podcast

NCBA CEO Says Industry is Optimistic

Cindy Zimmerman

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Forrest Roberts is thrilled at the turnout at this week’s Cattle Industry Convention, which was exceptional even without considering the bad weather. “We started the week with expectations that we would set a record for attendance over the past ten years,” Forrest said. “We had a little bit of a scare with Mother Nature with …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

NCBA Live Cattle Marketing Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

The proposed GIPSA regulations and the impact of the recent Eastern Livestock bankruptcy case were the top issues on the agenda for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Live Cattle Marketing Committee meeting today. Allie Devine, VP & General Counsel for the Kansas Livestock Association, gave an update on both at the meeting. While the outcome of GIPSA is still up …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

CattleFax Outlook at Cattle Industry Convention

Cindy Zimmerman

It was a full house for the CattleFax Annual Outlook Seminar this morning in Denver, showing how important future trends in weather, prices, grain markets and exports are to members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. According to CattleFax market analyst Brett Stuart, global beef demand is increasing alongside tighter world beef supplies. “2011 will be the fourth consecutive year …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

NCBA Outlines Long Range Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Long Range Plan Task Force unveiled the core strategies and goals for the industry going forward. I talked with task force member Homer Buell of Shovel Dot Ranch in Nebraska about some of the six core areas – improving domestic consumer preference for beef, global growth opportunities, strengthening the image of beef, protecting …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

NCBA Stewardship Awards Celebrate 20 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

The 20th annual national Environmental Stewardship Award (ESA) winner was announced Thursday night during the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association tailgate party held at the Denver Broncos football stadium. The seven regional award winners were honored during a reception where they all received specially commissioned bronze sculptures by artist Vern Friesen of Nebraska, courtesy of sponsor Dow AgroSciences. The national winner …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

First Ever NCBA Communications Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association inaugurated some new awards this year for excellence in agricultural communications and journalism. The Excellence in Agricultural Communications awards were presented to an outstanding state beef association communicator and to a state breed communicator. The winners were Eric Grant of the American Angus Association (pictured on the right with Mike Deering and Mary Geiger of …

Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

NCBA President Reflects on 2010

Cindy Zimmerman

Steve Foglesong of Illinois has just a couple more days as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and I spent a few minutes with him today reflecting on his year as the head of the organizations. When it came to over-reaching government regulation, Steve said, “It was non-stop, one issue after another” but, he is pleased that NCBA was …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Karl Rove at Cattle Industry Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

Addressing about 5,000 cattle industry members from around the country Thursday morning, the man who served President George W. Bush in the White House gave a nice, if somewhat backhanded, compliment to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “This is one damn confident organization to have a man with a ponytail coming in as your president,” said Karl Rove, referring to …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

NCBA President-Elect Stresses Working Together

Cindy Zimmerman

The pony-tailed president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association took a little good-natured ribbing from former White House advisor Karl Rove this morning for his hairstyle, but he also poked a little fun at himself during his address to the thousands of cattle industry members. “I am the first president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to be on Facebook,” …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Let the Cattle Convention Coverage Begin

Cindy Zimmerman

We are here in the Mile High City at last for the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. Despite all the weather issues this week, attendance looks to be pretty good for this annual meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The media room is filled with all the usual suspects and from what we have heard, most …

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA