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AgriNews (serving Minnesota and northern Iowa) - - Tues. - - Sept. 12, 2006

R-CALF leader makes call in Iowa

By Renae B. Vander Schaaf

MARCUS, Iowa -- Area cattle producers gathered in Marcus last week to learn about R-CALF USA.

Independent Cattlemen of Iowa recently formed as an affiliate of Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America. Regional director Eric Nelson of Moville said Independent Cattlemen of Iowa supports voluntary animal identification, mandatory country of origin labeling, open, competitive markets and price discovery, rural economic development through live cattle production and reasonable environmental laws.

"Who is going to own the cattle, independent producers or the packing industry?" Nelson asked.

Bill Bullard, R-Calf CEO from Billings, Mont., talked about the cattle industry and the impact of imported live cattle on U.S. market.

"In 1993 beef consumption increased dramatically," Bullard said. "This was fueled by an improved image of beef due to Beef Checkoff dollars and the Atkins Diet. At the same time demand for beef was increasing, the U.S. cattle industry was facing tough financial times. Instead of relying on beef produced on American soil, the packers went to other countries and imported live beef."

Instead of the U.S. cattle industry growing, 122,000 producers quit.

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