CALF_News_February_March_2021

25 CALF News • February | March 2021 • www.calfnews.net Stockgrowers Council Business Session Tyler Breeden of Quinter chaired the Stockgrowers meet- ing on Dec. 9. He introduced guest speaker Colin Woodall, NCBA CEO. In the middle of all things political, Woodall reported to KLA fromWashington, D.C. His message was frankly calm- ing to an ag sector nervous about a change in administration. Woodall called President-elect Biden a “known commodity” to the cattle industry. Bringing back much of Obama’s staff, Biden’s re-introduction of Tom Vilsack as secretary of agricul- ture is a “good thing.” Branded as “bad Republicans” by the Obama administration, NCBA members nonetheless became good allies in getting trade deals passed, proving their worth and determination to Vilsack. NCBA pushed back GIPSA and COOL legislation during the Obama years; Vilsack knows NCBA’s resilience in getting their priorities accomplished. Woodall hopes these two issues won’t resurface again under Biden’s watch. The NCBA CEO went on to say sustainability will be a top issue with the upcoming leadership, having already met with Biden’ transition team. Woodall predicts agriculture will fare well, although we must convince them that agriculture will be part of the solution to climate change. New issues to be worked through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration will be deal- ing with fake meat and gene editing of livestock. He reminded us that the new president will make 4,000 political appointments, 1,200 of which need to be confirmed by the senate. This is why it takes months to get an adminis- tration rolling. NCBA will encourage Biden to honor Trump’s executive order leaving packing plants open under all circumstances and prioritize plant workers for COVID vaccination. The election was not so much a “blue wave” but a “blue fizzle,” leaving us in a situation that is not dire. There have been no surprises so far in Biden appointees. Left-wing policy like the Green New Deal has not gotten much traction as Democrats realize they must moderate to survive. Woodall added that his biggest concern will be overreach by the EPA and the Department of the Interior. SNAP and dietary guidelines will partly be affected by perceived sustainability issues. A new catch phrase may be “Sustainability in Nutrition.” Business and Membership Meeting The Business and Membership Meeting concluded the 2020 KLA Convention. Jerry Kuckelman, Manhattan, was elected president. He is CEO of Innovative Livestock Services (ILS), which consists of eight feedyards in central Kansas and south- central Nebraska. It includes an extensive farming operation. Phil Perry of Oskaloosa was elected president-elect. He and his wife run a cow-calf operation and custom preconditioning business. KLA is a 5,700-member organization.  INDUSTRY’S FIRST AUTOMATED SQUEEZE CHUTE BRUTE CATTLE EQUIPMENT 402.693.2221 www.dodgemfg.com ® Visit us on the Web, Facebook or Twitter for video demonstrautions. A UTONOMOUS C ATCH-CHUTE E LITE BRUTE DOUBLE & SINGLE WEDGE ALLEYS, TUBS & LOADOUTS Call Today!