Kansas Livestock Association holds 95th annual meeting

By Doug Rich

The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) annual meeting, held in Wichita, Kan., Nov. 29 and 30, concluded with a presentation by outgoing president, David Cross, and the passage of policy resolutions to guide the organization for the next year.

Cross discussed several issues from his year as KLA president. Many of these lined up with policy resolutions passed by KLA membership at their annual meeting.

"One problem that always comes up is that of labor shortages and immigration," Cross said. "KLA policy supports the passage of a practical guest worker program and opposes efforts to place regulatory enforcement responsibilities on employers. It is anticipated that the Kansas Legislature may seek to increase penalties on employers who don't meet federal employment regulation requirements. A proposed federal regulation will allow federal agencies to use "no match" letters as a tool for illustrating that an employer has instructive knowledge of an employee's legal status."

"It is anticipated that some form of this regulation will be put into effect in the near future," Cross said. "Employers should use this opportunity to review and update their records to ensure they are in compliance with the federal law."

A 2007 resolution retained for 2008 states that KLA supports immigration policy that allows for an efficient and adequate guest worker program, and provides opportunities for current employees found to be illegally employed to complete the immigration process legally. KLA policy further states that it opposes tougher penalties for businesses unknowingly employing illegal workers. KLA supports legislation that recognizes and reduces penalties for employers in substantial compliance with immigration laws. KLA supports legislation that creates programs for foreign worker status documentation to reduce the burden of employers and to assure an adequate workforce.

Checkoff

"The beef checkoff is another area that is going to need some attention," Cross said. "This program is over 20 years old and the industry-wide beef checkoff taskforce has some good observations and recommendations."

An amended resolution passed at the KLA annual meeting states that KLA supports amendments to the Beef Promotion and Research Act that would enable eligible beef producers to pursue changes in the checkoff assessment rate through a petition and referendum process. KLA further supports a petition process requiring signatures of at least 10 percent of all eligible beef producers and a referendum that requires a 50 percent or more approval vote by eligible producers who vote in a qualified referendum. KLA supports an immediate increase in the beef checkoff assessment rate for the purpose of adequately funding an effective beef demand building program.

Farm Bill

"Development of the 2007 farm bill has been very interesting," Cross said. "This farm bill will have more input from sources outside agriculture than any other farm bill before. The makeup of this Congress has made it an imperative to form new coalitions with people and organizations we have not worked with before."

"Two parts of this farm bill that need mentioned today are country-of-origin labeling (COOL) and the Competition Title," Cross said. "NCBA and KLA worked hard to get several improvements for producers included in the COOL amendment contained in the House and Senate farm bills. This included reduced record keeping, labeling clarification and a grandfather provision for animals in the U.S. on or before January 2008."

KLA policy supports the NCBA Country-of-Origin Labeling Working Group's efforts to develop a workable, voluntary country-of-origin labeling program. KLA opposes legislation imposing a mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirement for the beef industry.

"As far as the Competition Title is concerned, the House provision contains no restrictions on marketing livestock," Cross said. "The Senate is a different story. The amendment that would restrict marketing agreement between producers and processor goes too far. This language would prevent producers from forming alliances, forward contracting, or gaining market premiums. KLA members have always believed they should be able to market their cattle as they see fit. Allowing the government to dictate how we sell cattle is unacceptable.

KLA policy urges Congress to avoid agriculture policies, which pit one industry against another and will oppose farm bill provisions that significantly distort market signals and inadvertently cause economic harm to the livestock sector.

Natural resources

"On the federal level, expansion of the Clean Water Act would redefine waters of the U.S., doing away with the requirement that these waters be navigable in order to be regulated," Cross said. "Changing this definition would allow every mud puddle, creek bed or other spot on your property that might contain water some time within the year to fall under federal jurisdiction."

An amended resolution passed at the KLA annual meeting states that KLA opposes federal legislation to expand federal jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act, including proposals to redefine "Waters of the United States."

"In the state of Kansas we have important water issues also," Cross said. "We currently have 10 intensive groundwater use control areas (IGUCA) in the state. These are placed in areas where the chief engineer of the Division of Water Resources has determined water rights may be impaired. This usually happens when someone is not getting water they think they should have.

"In March, hearings took place to see if an expansion of the IGUCA already in place on the Pawnee-Buckner was necessary," Cross said. After testimony, the chief engineer approved the expansion despite evidence that the water table had reached a sustainable level. Another hearing, to determine what restrictions will be placed on water rights holders in that area, will take place now that a new chief has been appointed. KLA is considering a variety of legal options."

KLA policy was amended to state that KLA encourages the Division of Water Resources to rely on sound, objective and accurate geological data when reviewing IGUCA requests and an IGUCA order should affect all types of water users equally and be administered in a manner consistent with the principles of the "Prior Appropriation Act."

KLA supports legislation to amend the IGUCA law and to require producers an independent hearing panel or officer for establishment or expansion of IGUCA; and procedures for an automatic, periodic review of existing or proposed IGUCA; and that no IGUCA be established or expanded within the boundaries of a Groundwater Management District without the approval of such Groundwater Management District Board.

"We need to remember there are people and organizations that want access to our natural resources and they see litigation as the easiest and cheapest way to get it," Cross said.

In addition to these resolutions KLA members passed the following new resolutions:

Deer

--KLA supports changes in Kansas law to allow farmer and ranchers more flexibility and legal authority to control deer and other wildlife damage to crops and livestock.

Motor Vehicle Regulations

--KLA supports an interpretation of federal law that clarifies that transporting agricultural products to and from market within the states does not constitute interstate commerce.

--KLA supports reasonable and least burdensome regulations so that they do not impede the necessary transportation of Kansas agricultural products to and from market.

Prairie Dogs

--KLA opposes state legislation that would restrain local government officials' ability to control prairie dogs.

KLA urges the USFWS to not re-introduce the ferret in Kansas.

Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com.

12/10/07
2 Star EK\1-B

Date: 12/6/07

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