Press Release
From: Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska
For Immediate Release: August 9, 2010
Media Contact: ICON Executive Director Destry Brown: 308-458-2244, ICON President David Wright: 402-929-0339, Communications Director Linda Wuebben: 402-357-3778
ICON Members Seek Beef Council Seats
The recent compliance review of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has spurred interest among members of the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) to nominate responsible Nebraska cattle producers to fill director positions being vacated on the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC). Currently, ICON board members David Wright and Rod Gray serve on the NBC, with Wright term-limited out this year after serving eight years.
Two ICON members, Chris Abbott of Gordon and Terry Rothwell of Hyannis, are gathering signatures this summer for nomination to fill two NBC board seats this fall. ICON is committed to staying involved in the beef checkoff program, ensuring funds are allocated appropriately and used for their intended purposes.
"The complexity within the sectors of the cattle and beef industry becomes very transparent when you examine the input costs and the output received among the producing, feeding, and processing sectors," said Chris Abbott, ICON Board of Directors member. "To think one organization, namely the NCBA, can effectively represent all segments of our industry is absurd. The fact that they are the major contractor of our checkoff dollars creates a huge conflict of interest."
ICON expressed disappointment over the misallocation of funds highlighted in the initial compliance review of the NCBA by the Cattlemen's Beef Board (CBB).
"I decided to seek nomination for my Region (6) to gain a seat on the NBC and provide a common-sense voice for decisions on fund allocation," said Rothwell. "With the recent disclosure of non-compliance issues within NCBA, it is more important than ever to participate in the process. As a working rancher in Arthur County, I am deeply concerned about where my money is going and whether it is working for me."
Rothwell also noted concerns from ranchers about the NBC's recent decision to send millions of dollars to the Federation of State Beef Councils with no strings attached, instead of earmarking those funds to promote Nebraska beef. She believes these funds should better support local and statewide beef producers.
ICON is also reminding Nebraska cattlemen about the upcoming USDA/DOJ Workshop in Fort Collins, CO, on August 27, 2010. ICON is sponsoring a bus trip to the workshop, with free transportation provided by ICON and several sponsors. A few seats remain available, and a block of 20 rooms at the Best Western University Inn, located across from Colorado State University, has been reserved at a rate of $79 for two double beds.
ICON encourages livestock producers to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send a clear message to the USDA and Congress about current market practices that need to be addressed.
For more information about rooms or to reserve your seat on the bus, please contact Destry Brown at 308-458-2244.
Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska
"Solid as a windmill. Always working for the independent producer."