CALF_News_February_March_2021

24 CALF News • February | March 2021 • www.calfnews.net By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor T he Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), following pre- cautionary guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, held a virtual convention in December. The meetings were held on Zoom, with YouTube coverage conveniently provided for their non-voting audience. Meetings were held over a period of three weeks, giving mem- bers plenty of room to navigate schedules. Natural Resources Committee Meeting The Natural Resources meeting kicked off convention pro- ceedings on Dec 2, with committee chairman Shawn Tiffany in charge. There were no guest speakers. Among the topics of discussion was one sore that never seems to go away –Waters of the United States (WOTUS). It has been removed, gratefully, from the majority of the U.S. However, California, Colorado and South Carolina continue to be involved in ongoing lawsuits. Focus elsewhere has shifted to regulation of stock and irriga- tion ponds. KLA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Associa- tion (NCBA) are intervenors to help defend the final rule. An update was given on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rulings regarding several herbicides. Aaron Papelka explained state and national permits for confinement animal feeding operations and when they become necessary. Stockwa- ter facility permits are also regulated and add another layer of complexity to livestock production. The issue of the lesser prairie chicken being declared threat- ened or endangered is causing undue stress to farmers and ranchers in western Kansas. Much of their habitat is privately owned, and animal rights activists are pushing for greater regu- lation on the area. The issue is unresolved on a federal level; KLA considers this one of their most serious issues. Concerns over prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, deer, feral horses and burros matched concern over noxious weeds and blockage of herbicides by the EPA. Animal Health and ID Committee Meeting Vice Chairman Philip Weber of Smith Center chaired the Animal Health and ID meeting on Dec. 3. The Kansas Division of Animal Health reported there is no evidence of domestic livestock or pets as a source of COVID for humans. In addition, the Kansas Department of Agricul- ture has been surveillance testing for various serious diseases among livestock in a precautionary manner. Policy resolutions included discussion on handling of non- ambulatory cattle and humane care of horses in a country where horse harvest has been banned. Trichomoniasis, bovine viral diarrhea and disease traceability were reviewed. Most interesting was the topic of the feral swine problem in Kansas, with aerial photographs showing damage done to farms and ranches. The wide-spread adaptation of these hogs may soon make them a prob- lem to the majority of our states. Taxation Meeting Derick Hoagland of Leavenworth chaired the Taxation meeting, which featured two speakers. Doug Wareham, Kansas Bankers Association president and CEO, spoke on the proposed legislation, “Enhancing Credit Opportunity for Rural Kansas.” He emphasized the importance of lowering the cost of credit for land purchases, sustaining rural communities, and targeted tax exemptions on ag land and ag homes. The issue had made progress in the Kansas Legislature prior to COVID but has since come to a standstill. The bill will be reintroduced next year. Hoagland warned that one-third of community bank char- ters in Kansas have been lost in the past 10 years. Second to speak was Greg Reno, senior vice president of American Ag Credit. He provided information on tax status in the Farm Credit system and was there to answer questions so KLA membership can vote informatively on policy issues. Farm Credit systems is a federal entity. He explained that property taxes are the greatest revenue generator in Kansas, and urban properties need to be taxed equally. During his discussion, Hoagland emphasized that com- munity banks are asking for equal treatment that Farm Credit Services (FCS) enjoys. He went on to say that banking is heavily regulated by the federal government, with oversight for banks being far greater than FCS. A lengthy discussion on banking issues followed the speak- ers, with a healthy 134 members attended the virtual Taxation Meeting. Newly elected KLA officers are President Jerry Kuckelman of Manhattan and President-Elect Phil Perry of Oskaloosa. RIGHT: KLA Past President is Harry Moser of Wheaton. CONVENTION COVERAGE KANSAS LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION Hosts Virtual Convention