ABP meeting

[pandiana]

Here is a clip from ranchers.net that I though was rather topical. It seems we have a lot in common.

"Soapweed March 2, 2005
It has been said that "the world is run by those who show up". Apathy can play a big part in ruling the world, also, by allowing those who do show up free rein to operate as they see fit. Awareness and participation by average citizens tends to keep the leaders honest.

If there was a problem with the way NCBA was run a few years back, we have only ourselves to blame. Apathy by the average rancher was apparent, and most of us didn't "show up" for the cattlemen's meetings. Then we griped because the NCBA wasn't going the way we wanted it to. In retrospect, all we had to do was go to the meetings and institute the changes we wanted. It could have been done, and lately has been done. The NCBA is now much more "user friendly", and perhaps R-Calf needs a pat on the back for getting the NCBA back on track."

[farmers_son]

I would add that the reason the NCBA is more user friendly is because their checkoff is being challenged in the U.S. court system.

http://www.beef.org/NEWSCourtUpholdsRulingAgainstNationalBeefCheckoff5 071.aspx

"DENVER (July 8, 2003) – In a case that could have far-reaching implications for the American beef industry, a three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the Beef Promotion and Research Act violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. At the same time, the court said the program may continue while the parties decide whether to ask the full Circuit Court to reconsider the decision."


It is only a matter of time until producers in Alberta challenge the ABPs checkoff if the ABP is not seen as being responsive to the grass roots producers.

Also see: Beef: It’s What’s in Our Courts
http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/legal_issues/legal_activities/litigation/judge_richard_cebull.htm