• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Ranchers.net

USDA is quietly trying to allow in increased meat imports from Argentina, despite Argentina’s wide spread foot-and-mouth disease problem


MCA AND USCA TO HOLD TOWN HALL PRODUCER MEETINGS



Source: Montana Cattlemen’s Association (MCA)

Feb. 12, 2008



Billings, Mont., ~ The Montana Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) and the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) have scheduled two Town Hall meetings in north central Montana. The first meeting will be held at the Community Center in Whitlash on Wednesday, February 20th. A chili dinner will be served at 2:00 p.m. (the cost of the dinner is $8.00, and the proceeds will benefit the Whitlash Ladies Club and the Whitlash Community Center).



MCA President Brett DeBruycker and District 6 Director Bruce Lee will join the USCA Governmental Relations Director Jess Peterson to discuss the issues affecting cattle producers on the state and national levels. Cattle industry activist, Leo McDonnell has been invited to make some remarks on the state of the cattle industry.



The second town hall meeting is scheduled at the Lobby Café (405 S. Main) in Conrad on Thursday, February 21st. A no host lunch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. which will be followed by a similar MCA/USCA informational meeting.



“These town hall meetings are an excellent opportunity for us to visit with producers out in the country. Montana Cattlemen’s has always prided itself as a grassroots organization—looking to our members for our direction. It is important that we have these meetings so we can listen to producers from across the state,” said MCA President Brett DeBruycker.



In January, MCA members voted to formally affiliate with the USCA. This is the first opportunity the two groups have had to work with producers in Montana.



“I am excited to head back to Montana to visit with folks out in the country,” noted Jess Peterson, USCA Governmental Relations Director. “There has been some very important legislation—namely the Farm Bill which kept me hopping over the past few months. Plus USDA is quietly trying to allow in increased meat imports from Argentina, despite Argentina’s wide spread foot-and-mouth disease problem. I am pleased that USCA and MCA are the two associations leading the charge in preventing this rule from being implemented. Work on the Farm Bill and USDA’s proposed rule with Argentina is far from over, and I look forward to informing fellow Montanans about these issues, and the importance of getting involved to make a difference!”



For more information about the Montana Cattlemen’s Association, or to RSVP for one of the Town Hall meetings, please call 406-259-5433, e-mail [email protected], or visit the website at www.montanacattlemen.org.



montanacattlemen.org
Top