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TCFA Services

The impact of government activities on everyday life is ever-present.  That's why TCFA officers and staff are in constant contact with legislators in state and national political arenas.  Not only do TCFA officers and staff visit Washington and Austin, TCFA brings national legislators and their staffs to the TCFA area to give them a first-hand look at cattle feeding.

Additionally, TCFA utilizes Beef-PAC to help elect candidates who understand and are friendly to our industry.  While TCFA is very active in the legislative arena, the Association cannot, by law, use dues money to make candidate contributions.  TCFA Beef-PAC, through member contributions, helps support candidates who understand our industry.  Key staff contacts: Ross Wilson (legislation) and Shannon Standley (Beef-PAC). 

Market Information

If knowledge is power, then TCFA members swing a big stick when it comes to getting top dollar for fed cattle, thanks to the TCFA Market Department.  The TCFA area accounts for about 30% of all the fed cattle marketed in the U.S. , making Cattle Feeding Country the center of the nation's fed cattle market.  TCFA market analysts keep their thumb on the pulse of the market and can give up-to-the-minute information to qualified members.

And, thanks to M-Net, feedyards are only a computer screen away from detailed market information.  M-Net is TCFA's two-way computer satellite market information system that allows members to automatically receive market updates every 30 minutes, or more frequently if market conditions dictate.  In the fast-paced fed cattle business, M-Net can help put market power in your hands and help you get the best price possible for your cattle.  Key staff contact: Don Close.

The TCFA Communications Department works to keep members informed about the events and activities that shape cattle feeding.  TCFA members receive the weekly TCFA Newsletter and yearly Cattle Feeders Annual.  In addition, brochures and special reports keep you informed on events and actions which may impact your business.  A video library is available to members with tapes on a variety of subjects.  Members can check out video tapes on loan from TCFA to use in employee training or as a program for 4-H, FFA or civic club meetings.  In addition, the TCFA Communications Department often serves as the point of first contact with the media, helping reporters get accurate, truthful information about cattle feeding.  Key staff contact: Burt Rutherford. 

Regulatory Liaison  

Between the state and federal government, feedyards in Cattle Feeding Country must adhere to regulations from more than 20 different agencies.  Sorting through the maze of regulations can be a difficult task.  That's why TCFA maintains a close relationship with many government agencies whose actions can affect you.

Feedyard members gain a valuable return on their membership by consulting with staff as they draw plans to comply with various regulations.  Should a feedyard need interpretation or clarification of regulations, TCFA can help.  Should a feedyard need to contact a government agency, TCFA can assist in the discussion.  Should a member wish to suggest changes, reductions, or additions to regulations, those can be channeled through TCFA.  Key staff contact: Ben Weinheimer. 

Arbitration  

In any business, disagreements sometimes arise.  To assist members in resolving their differences, TCFA developed its Arbitration Program

The TCFA Arbitration Program allows any TCFA member who has a cattle feeding business dispute with another member to air grievances before a panel of fellow cattlemen.  This panel renders a decision, which can be appealed to another cattlemen's panel if the parties desire.  Both parties must agree to arbitrate.  Key staff contact: Shannon Standley.

Seminars and Meetings  

Cattle feeding is a unique business and cattle feeders have unique and special needs for knowledge and information.  To satisfy those needs, TCFA sponsors many seminars that help members work smarter.

Members and employees can benefit from seminars on such topics as feedyard office procedure, feedyard safety, animal health, feedmill management, financial management, labor law and others.  The TCFA Annual Convention is another event that provides fertile ground for education and the exchange of ideas.

TCFA's cost-effective educational seminars can return significant benefits to your operation through greater employee productivity.  Key staff contact: Trent Tyson.

Research  

Feedyards in Cattle Feeding Country combine the traditions of cattle production with cutting-edge technology in an effort to do the best job possible feeding cattle.  With an industry that was raised on technology and whose future will be determined by scientific advances, TCFA encourages research into various aspects of fed cattle production.

TCFA works in concert with the academic community to provide cattle feeders with technical knowledge by planting "seed money" in research projects that will provide the information needed to stay ahead of the curve.  In fact, TCFA has helped fund more than 80 research projects over the years.  Key staff contact: Ben Weinheimer.

Insurance and Safety  

The TCFA Group Health and Life Insurance Plans provide Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurance with attractive benefits at competitive rates for Texas-based employers.  The TCFA Safety Program helps feedyards develop worker safety programs, designed to prevent accidents, reduce insurance premiums and cut losses.  TCFA can conduct on-site feedyard inspections and then help management and employees create a safe and healthy workplace environment.  In addition, the TCFA Safety Program can help you avoid costly down time in the feedmill through its special feedyard thermography inspection.  Key staff contacts: Kristi Gillispie (Insurance) and Brady Miller (Safety).

TCFA was the first state cattlemen's association to implement a Beef Safety and Quality Assurance Program^sm.  TCFA's Program has served as the foundation for beef quality assurance efforts now in place in nearly every state.  

TCFA's BSQA Program includes HACCP principles and recognizes feedyards for meeting strict requirements.  Feedyards must be audited by TCFA and certified by a third party expert, and then must re-qualify every year to keep their certification.  In addition to earning the use of TCFA's BSQA emblem, qualifying feedyards also are certified under the national "Mark of Quality" program administered by NCBA.  Key staff contact: Brady Miller.

Environmental Services  

TCFA developed a model Pollution Prevention Plan for feedyards that has become the standard for other industries.  And to help TCFA Feedyard Members become as environmentally proactive as possible, TCFA conducts environmental site assessments that help Feedyard Members understand the many federal and state environmental regulations. 

 In addition, TCFA offers enhanced environmental services to help feedyards with monitoring, testing and recordkeeping.  TCFA conducts training for feedyard personnel, inspects environmental equipment and facilities, reviews logs and records and assists with water, soil and nutrient sampling.  Key staff contact: Ben Weinheimer.

Other Services  

In addition, TCFA offers many other services on behalf of its members.  If you're looking for employees, check out TCFA's Employee Referral Service.  Those looking for feedyard employment can place a confidential resume with TCFA.  Feedyards looking for help can contact TCFA, which will forward resumes of potential employees.  Key staff contact: Kaci Barclay.

Young cattlemen in 4-H or FFA looking for education and a hands-on experience can compete in the TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge and TCFA Team Challenge.  Junior Fed Beef Challenge participants feed a pen of three or four steers, then compete on the carcass merit of their cattle and their knowledge and understanding of the cattle feeding industry.  Students compete for college scholarships and cash and prizes.  The Team Challenge is designed for students who don't feed cattle, but who want to compete based on their cattle knowledge.  Key staff contact: Trent Tyson. 

TCFA strongly supports the beef checkoff and works with various organizations including the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), Cattlemen's Beef Board (CBB), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and Texas Beef Council (TBC) to form a powerful beef promotion team.  Key staff contact: Ross Wilson.

Education Foundation  

The TCFA Education Foundation awards scholarships to graduate students involved in research projects on cattle feeding.  Working through the Consortium for Cattle Feeding and Environmental Sciences, students apply for the scholarships through their major professors.  The consortium is comprised of faculty from Texas A&M University in College Station, West Texas A&M University at Canyon, USDA research facilities at Bushland, Texas Tech University at Lubbock and New Mexico State University at Las Cruces.  Scholarships are typically awarded in the spring to be used on summer research projects.

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5501 I-40 WestAmarillo, Texas U.S.A. 79106806-358-3681e-mail: info@tcfa.org