News Release
Nebraska Cattlemen

Audio Interview
(Full text version follows audio release below)

Current Nebraska Cattlemen President Todd Schroeder, Wisner, and the Cuming County Cattle Feeders will be hosting the 2009 Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Meeting, June 17-18 in West Point. A great lineup of activities for members and their families is planned for the two-day event.

Representative Adrian Smith held a conference call today with Nebraska Cattlemen leaders to provide updates on a range of cattle industry related issues. Because Smith returned recently from a trade mission to Mexico, Panama, Brazil and Columbia efforts to obtain a U.S. – Columbia Free Trade Agreement dominated discussion during the conference call.

“Senator Ben Nelson played a key role in the Senate’s passage yesterday of the Lincoln – Kyl Death Tax Amendment to the FY2010 Budget Resolution. Permanency of estate tax relief has been a Nebraska Cattlemen priority for years and we appreciated Senator Nelson’s leadership as an active co-signor of the amendment,” said Nebraska Cattlemen Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey.

From Hearings to Action. This is the last week of hearings for the 101st Legislature. With the conclusion of committee hearings, more focus will be given to advanced bills from the respective committees. NC leaders and staff have testified at many of the hearings. NC Farmer-Stockman Council Chairman Greg Wiedel testified in the Revenue Committee in support of LB 469, which would create the Agricultural Land Valuation Task Force. NC has long-standing policy in support of Ag Land Valuation. The policy supports...

“Nebraska Cattlemen members across the state appreciate Congressman Jeff Fortenberry introducing legislation that would prevent taxation of gas emitted by livestock,” said Nebraska Cattlemen Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey.

Down the Back Stretch. The Unicameral’s hearing schedule is nearly complete. Bills of interest to NC members include LB 593, which would restrict entity ownership of ag land and farm and ranch operations. NC Marketing and Commerce Chairman Herb Rhodes testified in opposition on this NC Board priority bill.

Audio Interview

Nebraska Cattlemen Audio Program
Dairy Buy-Out a Bad Deal for Cattlemen: Kelsey

An idea before Congress to conduct a buyout of dairy cattle to buoy milk prices is getting a negative reaction from much of cattle country. Michael Kelsey is executive vice president of the Nebraska Cattlemen. He says a similar buyout in 1986 was very harmful to cattlemen,

The Nebraska Cattlemen Legislative Committee met in Lincoln Jan. 21 and 22 and analyzed 309 bills it considered potentially pertinent to cattle producer interests. The committee made recommendations to the NC Board of Directors, which took positions on 207 bills - support 63, oppose 34 and monitor 110.

The Nebraska Cattlemen thanks Sen. Mike Johanns for opposing proposed government programs that would create an incentive for culling of dairy cows in response to low milk prices. The Nebraska Cattlemen communicated last week with Nebraska’s congressional delegation seeking their help to keep a dairy buyout from being a part of a national economy stimulus package.