For Immediate Release                                                          Oct. 12, 2006

 For Information:  Burt Rutherford  (806) 358-3681    james@tcfa.org  

EXPORTS DOMINATED AN EVENTFUL YEAR,
TCFA CHAIRMAN TELLS CATTLEMEN

             If there is an issue, in a year dominated by major issues, that captured the attention of cattlemen, it is exports.

"The single most critical issue facing our industry since December 2003 has been the reopening of our major export destinations for beef," said John Gillcrist, chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA).  "Beef exports represented 10% of annual production when the U.S. experienced its first BSE case in late December 2003.  In the heartbeat of one positive BSE cow, science not withstanding, we lost 10% of our market for U.S. beef."

And a 10% loss in market share is significant, he told members of TCFA and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) during a joint session in Amarillo of Texas' two major cattle organizations.  The meeting brought cattle feeders to town for the TCFA Annual Convention and TSCRA members gathered for their annual Fall committee and board meetings.

By the summer of 2006, the U.S. had regained about 48% of its lost export markets.  While that will increase as Japan and South Korea come back, the export challenge remains, he said.

"The challenge that lies before us, and it's a major challenge, is to regain our lost market share and then grow our export volumes beyond 2003 levels," he said.  "To be successful, all arbitrary and non science-based restrictions and regulations imposed by foreign governments on U.S. beef must be lifted." 

That's important because exports represent the single greatest opportunity for growth in the U.S. beef industry in the foreseeable future, Gillcrist told cattlemen.  "It remains critical that TCFA stay focused on this and on other issues, such as animal ID, that will enhance our ability to export our product throughout the world."

Closer to home, TCFA and TSCRA members experienced severe hardship and in some cases grave peril this year because of drought and wildfires.  "TCFA, in concert with TSCRA, has been working all year to secure adequate drought relief for our three-state area of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico." 

There are still a lot of competing interests for disaster relief, he said, with a massive rebuilding effort still underway along the Gulf Coast and many other regions battling drought as well.  "But your associations-TCFA and TSCRA-were successful with Congress and USDA in securing significant drought relief."

Gillcrist told cattlemen that TCFA was involved in many issues this year as it represented their interests both region-wide and at the federal level.  Water, immigration reform, environmental stewardship, the Farm Bill, bioterrorism and more kept both staff and officers fully engaged, he said.

"This has been a profoundly interesting and challenging year for cattle feeders and for TCFA," Gillcrist said, adding that the association is only as strong as the members who are engaged in the day-to-day issues. 

"We are blessed to have a diverse membership that is willing to work hard to make Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico the best place to feed cattle.  I am truly honored and humbled to have been a part of what I think is the best group of people anywhere and I am proud of what we have done for you this year." 

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