CALF_News_December_2020_January_2021

25 CALF News • December 2020 | January 2021 • www.calfnews.net harvests have averaged about 55,000,” Blach said.“Plants are running at full capacity. Packers have done a wonderful job of keeping their workers safe and healthy.” CattleFax forecasts a continuation of the dry weather expe- rienced for months across the Southwest. That’s due to the La Niña weather pattern to be around well into winter, Blach said. Conaway said the 2023 Farm Bill could be a hard sell in Con- gress.“The next Farm Bill presents challenges,” he contended.“I fear that in 2023. Will ag be in favor or out of favor? “The 2018 Farm Bill passed with record votes. It may be dif- ficult to get similar results in 2023. We received no new money in 2018, [overall] about $100 million less than in 2014. Spend- ing will come under a lot of pressure due to what we have spent in the pandemic. Crop and livestock commodity groups “need to start meeting new members of Congress now, build relationships across the country,” Conaway said.“You don’t want to meet for the first time when you ask them for something. Tell them the impor- tance of ag policy [in advance].” World Market Changes Recent major trade agreements with China, Japan, Mexico and Canada should provide good avenues for U.S. beef. U.S. beef quality will likely ease into more markets, said Zeihan, who regularly provides geopolitical incites to businesses and organizations. He said the U.S. is one of few countries that will continue to operate an economy based on consumption and investment.“We are on the verge of a completely new [international] economic structure not driven by consumption or investment,” he told the Zoom-virtual TCFA audience. South Korea and Japan, two major buyers of U.S. beef and other commodities,“may see limitations on what they can pur- chase,” Zeihan said.“They have probably plateaued on markets.” However, the UK market offers a good sign for U.S. ag prod- ucts.“With Brexit, they will lose access to EU markets,” Zeihan explained.“They’ll have no option but to partner up with the U.S. That will force U.S. ag quality on the Brits. They will eat American food products due to the quality.” U.S. consumer buying is geared more toward Millennials, as Baby Boomers quickly enter the retirement age and likely ease their spending habits.“Say what you want about Millennials, but they’re probably going to save us all,” Zeihan said. Defoor added that the Beef Checkoff helped the U.S. promote American beef in foreign countries. Work by TCFA, NCBA and other cattle organizations with the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the Beef Checkoff should increase demand, he said.“With the modified NAFTA, the U.S. Mexico and Canada agreement, exports are expected to continue to gain momentum,” Defoor said. The outgoing TCFA chairman also noted that the associa- tion was among those who helped end the President Obama-era Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) regulations that invaded private property rights.“The new rule enables cattlemen to have more private property rights and control our own water,” he said. Cattle – Environmental Stewards Defoor praised U.S. Rep. Conaway for his years of support of the beef industry and his efforts to help illustrate that beef is good for the world. And Defoor complimented the work by UC Davis’ Mitloehner (see April-May 2020 CALF News) , who is educating industry and governments on how beef is not a major source of harmful methane gases. “Cattle have been part of the carbon cycle since before the industrial revolution,” Defoor said.“As long as the ruminant herd sizes exist as now, there are no new carbon contributions.” The U.S. ag and timber sectors provide a net carbon link,” he added.“Our productivity with existing cultivated land and beef production has allowed us to actually increase forest land since World War 1. “We must consider ag and timber together as a holistic system. Cattle are upcyclers. They turn plants and plant byprod- ucts into proteins [through beef production].” New TCFA Officers During the convention, Scott Anderson, co-owner of CRI feeders in Guymon, Okla., was elected the 2021 TCFA chair- man. Joining Anderson on the 2021 officer team are Kevin Buse, Hereford, chairman-elect, and Michael Bezner, Dalhart, vice chairman. “It’s an honor to serve the cattle feeding industry in this capacity and during such a unique time,” Anderson said.“Today, the entire beef supply chain is facing several challenges that will impact the future and, quite frankly, the sustainability of our collective business. “But I am optimistic we will respond to meet and overcome these challenges and find solu- tions that continue to make us stronger, better and more resilient.”  LEFT: Paul Zeihan, geo-political guru sees more beef trade with the UK after Brexit. RIGHT: U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway warned that asking the federal government to help market your cattle is a two-edge sword. New TCFA Chairman Scott Anderson, CRI Feeders, Guymon, Okla.