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10/18/2005 3:25:00 PM
R-CALF: CEO's Debut In Northeastern Oregon A Tremendous Success
(Pendleton, Ore.) – R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard recently spoke to an eager crowd of independent cattle producers at a meeting in Pendleton, Ore., and the feedback afterward was enormous, with requests for Bullard to speak elsewhere in Oregon and Washington. The Oregon Livestock Producers Association (OLPA), an R-CALF USA affiliate organization, sponsored the event.
Bullard opened his discussion by saying U.S. cattle producers must understand that cattle producers, along with packers, processors and other downstream segments of the industry are each part of the very profitable beef-industry supply chain, and U.S. cattle producers are in competition with these other segments to achieve their share of the profits within the industry.
"It is important for producers to appreciate the fact that while they are integral partners in the beef supply chain, the economic interests of packers are quite different from the economic interests of the producer," said Bullard. "It is critical that U.S. cattle producers defend their own interests, and you do that by getting involved.
"There are three fronts within the industry in which producers must participate – industry structure, economics and politics," he continued. "Regarding industry structure and its foundation, cattle producers and the rural businesses those producers support, it is imperative that this sector work together to ensure that the U.S. cattle industry continues to be comprised of independent cattle producers – small businesses all across America – that independently make decisions regarding the terms of their production and the terms of marketing.
"On the economic front, we must defend open, transparent, and competitive markets to ensure that our income is derived from a competitive marketplace, not from government price supports or subsidies," Bullard emphasized. "And finally, producers must use the political system to ensure that the rules that define our market facilitate robust competition while preventing any segment of the beef supply chain from exerting undue influence over the other segments, particularly the live-cattle production segment.
"R-CALF USA helps producers achieve these goals," Bullard said.
Following his talk, Bullard fielded questions from the floor.
Bullard outlined how R-CALF USA was part of a broad coalition that was instrumental in getting Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (M-COOL) included in the 2002 Farm Bill, and that consumers should have the right to choose exactly what to feed their families – which beef in the meat counter is from the U.S. and which is from other countries.
Bullard also explained how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shifted its disease-control standards from that of preventing the introduction of foreign animal diseases into the United States to an attitude that the introduction of disease is inevitable, so the agency's focus now is simply to manage those diseases once they arrive.
"It is extremely enlightening for producers to listen to Bill Bullard, as he asks them to imagine themselves as meat packers, and to see how that helps them to understand the big picture of what is happening in the industry," commented R-CALF USA National Membership Co-Chair Margene Eiguren. "The big picture dictates that in order for producers to survive, we must know the facts and stand up for our best interests, not the best interests of other segments of the industry."
R-CALF USA Oregon Region 3 Membership Chair Vicki Fleshman worked tirelessly to coordinate the event.
"I want to thank all those who attended and donated to the success of our first Umatilla County get-together," said Fleshman. "A special thank-you to Bill Bullard for his special way of presenting the facts and the current events affecting our industry. I know that those who attended went home feeling more educated and motivated to help our industry and, likewise, those in our industry.
"The most important thing we can all do is stick together," she said. "There are always some that do not participate or are apathetic, but we must continue to do what we can for all of those small producers in the cattle industry," Fleshman continued. "Our job, as individuals, is to gain more members, create more funding opportunities in support of the one organization that is truly fighting for us – R-CALF."
Fleshman said if every R-CALF USA member recruited just one new member, the national organization would soon grow to more than 36,000 cattle producers.
"We are half way there," she exclaimed. "Plant a seed and watch it grow. To have a good harvest, we must sow."
The silent auction and meeting raised more than $600 for R-CALF USA. Items were donated by Pamela Wunderlich; Vicki Fleshman; Margene Eiguren; and Ami-Pro/Kyle Robinson. Contributors included: Glen and Kelly Griffith; Larry and Joan Wade; VP Ranch/Curtis and Cheryl Martin; T Schaafsma Ranch; Mike and Elaine Smith; and Mike and Joanie Fluit. Dinner was served by the Red Lion Hotel.
R-CALF: CEO's Debut In Northeastern Oregon A Tremendous Success
(Pendleton, Ore.) – R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard recently spoke to an eager crowd of independent cattle producers at a meeting in Pendleton, Ore., and the feedback afterward was enormous, with requests for Bullard to speak elsewhere in Oregon and Washington. The Oregon Livestock Producers Association (OLPA), an R-CALF USA affiliate organization, sponsored the event.
Bullard opened his discussion by saying U.S. cattle producers must understand that cattle producers, along with packers, processors and other downstream segments of the industry are each part of the very profitable beef-industry supply chain, and U.S. cattle producers are in competition with these other segments to achieve their share of the profits within the industry.
"It is important for producers to appreciate the fact that while they are integral partners in the beef supply chain, the economic interests of packers are quite different from the economic interests of the producer," said Bullard. "It is critical that U.S. cattle producers defend their own interests, and you do that by getting involved.
"There are three fronts within the industry in which producers must participate – industry structure, economics and politics," he continued. "Regarding industry structure and its foundation, cattle producers and the rural businesses those producers support, it is imperative that this sector work together to ensure that the U.S. cattle industry continues to be comprised of independent cattle producers – small businesses all across America – that independently make decisions regarding the terms of their production and the terms of marketing.
"On the economic front, we must defend open, transparent, and competitive markets to ensure that our income is derived from a competitive marketplace, not from government price supports or subsidies," Bullard emphasized. "And finally, producers must use the political system to ensure that the rules that define our market facilitate robust competition while preventing any segment of the beef supply chain from exerting undue influence over the other segments, particularly the live-cattle production segment.
"R-CALF USA helps producers achieve these goals," Bullard said.
Following his talk, Bullard fielded questions from the floor.
Bullard outlined how R-CALF USA was part of a broad coalition that was instrumental in getting Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (M-COOL) included in the 2002 Farm Bill, and that consumers should have the right to choose exactly what to feed their families – which beef in the meat counter is from the U.S. and which is from other countries.
Bullard also explained how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shifted its disease-control standards from that of preventing the introduction of foreign animal diseases into the United States to an attitude that the introduction of disease is inevitable, so the agency's focus now is simply to manage those diseases once they arrive.
"It is extremely enlightening for producers to listen to Bill Bullard, as he asks them to imagine themselves as meat packers, and to see how that helps them to understand the big picture of what is happening in the industry," commented R-CALF USA National Membership Co-Chair Margene Eiguren. "The big picture dictates that in order for producers to survive, we must know the facts and stand up for our best interests, not the best interests of other segments of the industry."
R-CALF USA Oregon Region 3 Membership Chair Vicki Fleshman worked tirelessly to coordinate the event.
"I want to thank all those who attended and donated to the success of our first Umatilla County get-together," said Fleshman. "A special thank-you to Bill Bullard for his special way of presenting the facts and the current events affecting our industry. I know that those who attended went home feeling more educated and motivated to help our industry and, likewise, those in our industry.
"The most important thing we can all do is stick together," she said. "There are always some that do not participate or are apathetic, but we must continue to do what we can for all of those small producers in the cattle industry," Fleshman continued. "Our job, as individuals, is to gain more members, create more funding opportunities in support of the one organization that is truly fighting for us – R-CALF."
Fleshman said if every R-CALF USA member recruited just one new member, the national organization would soon grow to more than 36,000 cattle producers.
"We are half way there," she exclaimed. "Plant a seed and watch it grow. To have a good harvest, we must sow."
The silent auction and meeting raised more than $600 for R-CALF USA. Items were donated by Pamela Wunderlich; Vicki Fleshman; Margene Eiguren; and Ami-Pro/Kyle Robinson. Contributors included: Glen and Kelly Griffith; Larry and Joan Wade; VP Ranch/Curtis and Cheryl Martin; T Schaafsma Ranch; Mike and Elaine Smith; and Mike and Joanie Fluit. Dinner was served by the Red Lion Hotel.
