"CICA is strictly a grassroots driven group,
as we represent private enterprise and the true
cattle
growers of Colorado."
Apply Now for the Joel Franz Memorial Internship
Applications will be reviewed by the CICA Internship Committee and the Franz family. Application materials must be postmarked or delivered by May 5, 2012 to:
Get more info on this internship opportunity on the internship page.
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Hot Topics
Read John Reid's comments on the proposed Animal Disease Traceability Rules for the CICA.
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President's Message
Greetings to all of you from the eastern plains of Colorado. I am thankful for your confidence in electing me to be President of CICA. I take this responsibility se-riously and will humbly try to continue to grow our young organization with the help of the Board of Directors and your support as members. Those folks that started the Colorado Independent CattleGrowers at Kimmi Lewis’ Muddy Valley Ranch in June of 2005 were not on an ego trip but rather saw that there was a need for an organiza-tion to represent cattle producers and not be blindly tied to the hierarchy and politics of the NCBA.
I trust that most of you have either completed your weaning, selling, shipping, or are about to engage in such. Most of the yearlings have been shipped over the last 8-10 weeks. I hope your operations have been able to capital-ize on these strong calf and yearling markets. I know that it has been a challenging weather year for folks in SE Colorado, SW Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. While our cattle numbers are extremely tight, this drought situation will likely continue to support these higher price levels. But, we must remember that markets are about who controls the power. And with four firms slaughtering above 80% of the beef in this country, with international presence and captive supplies, it is not guar-anteed that strong prices have to continue.
This leads me to my next caution to you – I hope you have taken notice that on October 28th Secretary Vil-sack released details of the GIPSA rules that were being sent over to the executive branch of OMB for final review. Noticeably absent were any of the rules clarifications to the P&S Act that pertained to the beef industry. The big money from the meat processing side with the lobbying efforts of their producer lackey organizations, i.e., NCBA, NPPC and their state affiliates prevailed in gutting mean-ingful enforcement to GIPSA at this time. All is not lost though, as we need to work on Representative Gardner and Tipton at every possi-ble chance when they are in their Districts. Also, please be in contact with Senator Udall and Senator Bennett’s staff. I for one do not want to tell my grand kids that I did nothing to stop the chickenization of the beef industry.
CICA has four new directors on the Board this fall. We welcome Don Gittleson from Steamboat Springs in Region I; Harry Thompson, Snyder in Region 2; Will Bledsoe, Hugo in Region 4; and Rob Canterbury, Hillside in Region 6. It is always exciting to have new folks step up to help lead this outfit. It is also bittersweet to see Tom Hagans, Bill Bledsoe and Reed Kelly not on the board. Thanks for you service to the organization.
I have just completed board member committee assignments. We are also putting together our goals and calendar objectives for 2012. We hope to have something in conjunction with a day at the National Western and, of course, we will have an opportunity to be at the Capitol with our lobbyist, Totsy Rees to meet the legislators in early February.
As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas season I am especially thankful that the Lord has granted me life, health, family and freedom. I treasure the friend-ships that CICA has afforded me and my family. Wishing all of you well! Call me or any board member with your thoughts and concerns.
CICA needs your help in growing this organization so that we can be more effective in representing our busi-ness. Please ask your family, neighbors, and those you do business with to join us.
Respectfully,
Gerald Schreiber