I hope this writing finds you all well and enjoying what is left of what seems to be a really short, fast summer.
After the last few years of a less than stellar cattle market, it’s nice to see the rebound we have been experiencing so far in 2023. The 5-market average for a steer earlier this summer in July was about 27% higher than it was the same time last year. While I am by no means an economist, the data appears to tell us that beef demand is strong both domestically and globally while cattle supplies are down to their lowest levels since 2014. After the butt kicking most of us have endured the past few years, we all could use a break. All things considered; I remain optimistic that higher prices will continue on for a while at least.
Last month, NCA held our summer Board of Directors meeting and got the opportunity to hear updates and discuss issues with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Department of Agriculture, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Some takeaways from the meeting…
- BLM is pressing forward with review of over 200,000 comments on the proposed Conservation and Landscape Health Rule. At the same time the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee recently passed the 2023 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations package which includes an amendment to prohibit the BLM from using any funds to implement the proposed rule.
The appropriations bill still needs to be passed by the full House of Representatives as well as agreed to by the Senate. Congress has until September 1st to get all 12 of the government’s appropriations packages finished.
- Currently 4 of Nevada’s counties have declared a state of emergency due to the overpopulation of wild horses. The declared state of emergencies themselves do not trigger any sort of automatic solution, however, the declarations from county elected officials express the dire need to resolve the issue and are a useful tool in discussions with federal lawmakers.
- NCA is working to renew our Cooperative Monitoring Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The Agreement is intended to provide a framework for how monitoring data should be collected and expresses the importance and need for a collaborative monitoring approach.
By the time you read this article, NCA will have been well represented at the Public Lands Council Annual Meeting in Pendleton, OR. These meetings present an excellent opportunity to not only set policy important to Nevada’s livestock producers, but also connect with livestock producers in other states as well as key agency personnel. We are looking forward to another productive meeting and plan to continue to make headway on several different fronts.
Lastly, the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association is eager to announce this year’s convention. The 88th Annual Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show will be held November 16-18, 2023, at the Winnemucca Convention Center in Winnemucca, NV. As NCA members around the state gather in Winnemucca, we will celebrate a lifetime of traditions, revise, and review policies, and take a chance to enjoy our friends and neighbors.
NCA staff and officers are working hard to provide you with a memorable and educational experience. We would like to thank the sponsors and exhibitors for helping make our event a success.
To see a tentative schedule of convention or obtain a copy of our trade show/sponsorship packet, please look online at our website at nevadacattlemen.org. We are constantly updating it. We look forward to seeing you all at convention!
by Martin Paris | NCA Executive Director | O: 775-738-9214