The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a self-declared "sophisticated political organization," submitted a petition to Ohio’s Attorney General this week in support of placing an "anti-cruelty" measure on the statewide November ballot. The proposed measure would allow voters to require the newly created Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to adopt standards that will effectively end livestock production in Ohio by making it economically unfeasible to feed chickens, hogs, or veal calves in the state.

Utilizing a large corps of paid petition circulators, the group will seek to collect more than 600,000 signatures of registered Ohio voters upon approval of the petition forms by the Secretary of State. In doing so, they will attempt to circumvent the will of the Ohio voters in passing the measure to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board last November.

I just left the NCBA Membership Committee meeting at the annual convention in San Antonio, where members discussed the report of the Governance Task Force, a critical issue and opportunity before members this year.  Perhaps as important, the members of the committee discussed a proposal to adjust NCBA dues this year.  Reflecting the concerns about challenges facing agriculture in general, and cattlemen in specific, the proposal is driven by the need for NCBA to "maintain and enhance expertise and services in Washington, D.C."

The basics of the proposal revolve around an increase in the base dues for membership.  For example, as a producer who owns fewer than 100 head, I pay $50 to enjoy in the numerous benefits afforded NCBA members.  Under the current proposal, my dues would become $100, or roughly $8.33 per month.  To quote my conversation earlier with NCBA President Gary Voogt, that's roughly equivalent to one tank of diesel in your F-350, or four bags of mineral supplement.  "You wouldn't do without either of those," Gary told me, "so why would you do without your NCBA membership?"

In terms of percentage increase, the dues tier in which I fall appears to be the most affected.  Other dues brackets increase anywhere from $100-$180 per year, according to how many head a member owns.  As Voogt, and members of the committee pointed out, membership in NCBA provides tremendous representation in Washington, DC, and with regulation and legislation adding cost to our bottom line and threatening to put farm and ranch families out of business, More...

Addressing members at this afternoon's NCBA Federation Division and Policy Division Forums at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention in San Antonio about the Task Force Report, Lyons and Queen are explaining the findings of the group, and answering questions about how their recommendations might change the very structure of NCBA.

I talked with Jan Lyons about the Task Force's report and recommendation, and you can listen to our conversation.  Lyons spoke with me about the need for NCBA to be "more nimble," More...