ICA leader provides industry update

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

ICA Executive Director Shane Sklar praised ICA members for their involvement. -Staff photo by Taylor

July 11, 2002 -- At the recent Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas (ICA) meeting in San Antonio, Executive Director Shane R. Sklar commended the association for helping to pass important legislation concerning the new Farm Bill.

"I'm proud to say that in two years time, we'll be able to walk into a grocery store and be able to choose if you want to purchase U.S. beef or Mexican beef, Australian beef or whatever," he told producers.

The issue of mandatory country of origin labeling was one of the issues ICA was most interested in passing. This labeling will require fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables and peanuts to be labeled according to the country of origin.

"It's amazing to see the lengths some will go to assure the producer cannot differentiate his or her product in the market place," he said.

During a rush trip to Washington, D.C. just before a final vote was taken on the Farm Bill, Sklar was a part of the group who visited with congressmen and women to inform them of how this labeling would affect the nation's consumers, as well as agricultural producers.

"It's one of those common sense issues that should have been done long ago, but, at least, now, we'll be able to promote beef as more than a 'generic' commodity," he added.

Another major decision made by the ICA, this year, concerned joining forces with the new National Cattle Organization. Also, a little over three months ago, ICA became a national affiliate of Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF). This group has been instrumental in pressing for legislation in the interests of cattlemen.

"We're happy about this decision and in just a short period of time, we've been able to team up with them on important issues and get results that we're extremely proud of," said Sklar.

One issue supported by ICA that did not reach the final version of the Farm Bill concerned the 14-day ban of packer ownership of cattle -- the Johnson amendment. Sklar said although the item was dropped from the final bill, it brought national attention to the issue, and ICA was a part of that.

He said with the 78th Texas Legislature convening in January, ICA members will have a new group of congressmen and women to educate concerning agricultural issues. This will be partially due to redistricting, as well as new urbanites elected to office. The public needs to understand that agriculture is important to all citizens in order to continue to have "safe, reliable, affordable products" available to them.

Concerning animal health issues, Sklar said Texas is working with the USDA to look for "other alternatives" to testing all feeder cattle that leave the state, starting in January, 2003, due to the state losing the "free" status concerning cattle tuberculosis.

"The feasibility of testing 153,000 Texas herds is slim to none, and the manpower to do so is not there, either," he stated.

Sklar had nothing but praise for the state's ICA county chapters, and said it was a major reason Texas has such strength in the state and national legislatures.

"These chapters are the only organized, regular meeting place for people in the beef cattle industry in the state," he said.

The newest chapter has been formed in North East Texas (Sulphur Springs area). Sklar said the new chapter's president, Don Brown, and the members are "taking the bull by the horns," and that he looks for "great things to happen in the next couple of years with these folks."

Although times have changed since 1974, when T.A. Cunningham and others formed the first chapter of ICA in Goliad, the association has grown from a South Central Texas association to include members all over Texas.

"ICA has always been known as a family-oriented organization for down-to-earth people in the real world of cattle producing," said Sklar.

He believes the association's mission to be the "premier leader in the cattle industry, provide effective legislative voice and promote changes that will impact out well being" has not changed over the years.

In closing, he said when the going gets tough and the issues demand more attention from ICA members, they should continue to "shake it (problems) off and take a step up."