The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has an active political lobbying wing in Washington, D.C. and every year the Association gives those folks priority legislative issues to work on. The process is very democratic with local Beef Councils coming with the issues which are then openly discussed. Finally all NCBA members vote. They are a good indication of what ranchers concerns are (whether you agree or not).
For 2009 they are:
Trade
– Opening markets for US beef
– Expanding market access in Korea and Japan
– Passing fair trade agreements with Korea, Panama and Columbia
Food Safety and Nutrition
– Maintaining consumer confidence
– Using science-based strategies to ensure food safety
– Ensuring protein and lean beef are recognized as good sources of nutrition in the 2010 Dietary guidelines
Renewable Fuels
– Ending government intervention in the market for feed stocks (subsidies for corn for ethanol). NCBA supports renewable energy developments, but believes that subsidizing one industry at the expense of another is detrimental to our food and fuel objectives.
Environmental Regulations
– Implementing Clean Water Act Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations rule (a “zero-discharge” standard for all livestock operations)
– Preventing Congressional efforts to redefine “Waters of the US” (any water anywhere of any size is a federal issue)
– Preventing dust from being regulated under the Clean Air Act
– Farms are not factories and shouldn’t be regulated as such
Taxes
– Eliminating the Death Tax (estate taxes)
– Reducing the Alternative Minimum Tax
– Reducing the Capital Gains Tax
You can get more information at the NCBA website.