REGISTER FOR ACA CONVENTION
Make plans to join us for the 81st annual ACA Convention & Trade Show February 23-24, 2024 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL. In addition to vast networking opportunities, banquets featuring delicious beef meals and the Alabama beef industry’s largest trade show, the event will provide educational workshops, youth competitions and industry meetings. This year’s featured speakers include Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, who will keynote the Cattlemen’s Luncheon, and Mary-Thomas Hart, who serves as Chief Counsel for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Mary-Thomas is a litigation warhorse for NCBA, taking on some of our industry’s toughest challenges including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, voluntary conservation issues and, most recently, Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). Also joining the General Session speaker lineup is Dr. Josh Clevenger, a researcher at the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology.
While the 2024 event will bring back old favorites, it also welcomes some *NEW* features to the event, including: a Friday Evening Happy Hour, a Saturday Sunrise Breakfast Buffet, a Junior Do-It-All Registration option, Youth Scholarship Competitions on FRIDAY instead of Saturday, and more!
Get registered today at https://cvent.me/R1d94g and find lodging information at https://cvent.me/gvYZYZ. Last but not least, if you’d like to be a trade show vendor, get more information here » https://cvent.me/NlozmM.
We’ll see you in the Rocket City on Feb. 23-24, 2024!
YCLP Council Advocates in DC
Members of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Council joined ACA staff for an advocacy trip to Washington DC earlier in the month. While in town, council members enjoyed a tour of Capitol Hill lead by Heather Moore, wife of Congressman Barry Moore, and an issues briefing with the staff at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Center for Public Policy.
Following, the young leaders took to the Hill for visits with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Sen. Katie Britt, Rep. Mike Rogers, Rep. Barry Moore, Rep. Dale Strong, Rep. Robert Aderholt, Rep. Jerry Carl and Rep. Terri Sewell. Advocacy efforts included encouraging continued funding for voluntary conservation and risk management programs in the Farm Bill and widened allowances for black vulture depredation. The crew also advocated against the importation of fresh beef product from Paraguay— as the country does not uphold scientifically-based standards for containing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)— as well as the use of agricultural land in permanent land conversation efforts.
In addition to the advocacy efforts, council members also enjoyed networking with young cattlemen from Mississippi, who joined the crew in DC.
2024 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan Approved
The 2024 Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan was approved by the Beef Checkoff Council in December, outlining priorities for funding for the upcoming year. The program areas include consumer outreach, producer programs, youth development and operations. As Beef Checkoff collections remain strong— due to drought and pricing— the council approved a budget of $595,000 for National Checkoff programs and $658,500 for State Beef Checkoff programs.
Beef Checkoff dollars are collected on a $1/head basis at the point of sale for all cattle. These funds are then executed across a variety of program areas (listed above) to increase beef demand, educate producers and youth, and fund industry-driven research. The marketing plan can be accessed on the website by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/Checkoff.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
The ACA is Over the Top in 2023! Representing more than 10,100 members, we are grateful for the grassroots efforts that got us to our goal of 10,000 members.
Membership Deadlines to Remember
The membership recruitment deadline is December 22, this Friday! The top recruiter will be awarded ten 12″ Priefert panels, donated by our friends at Fuller Supply Company and Priefert Ranch Equipment. Also, new members recruited will go into the drawing for a John Deere Gator and your name will be entered for each new member you recruit. Don’t forget, all counties who go Over the Top by year end will go into the drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, also donated by Fuller Supply and Priefert Ranch Equipment. Get those memberships entered or sent to the office by the deadline to count!
County Meetings
We need your county meeting dates ASAP if you would like them to run in the magazine. This is the easiest way to get the word out to your members! Send the date, time, and location information to ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy. We’ve already received a long list of upcoming county meetings! Check it out here.
NCBA Launches Estate Tax Survey for Cattle Producers
NCBA is launching a survey of our members and affiliates to gather information on the impact of the federal estate tax, also known as the Death Tax, and other certain tax provisions used in their estate planning and business operations. While some cattle producers receive relief from the estate tax and certain businesses tax provisions secured in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that relief is not permanent. Beginning in 2026, only estates valued less than $5 million (adjusted for inflation) will be exempt from the federal estate tax, exposing many producers to greater risks of facing the 40% estate tax. Likewise, many of the business tax provisions NCBA advocated for in 2017 are set to expire at the end of 2025. NCBA will conduct the tax survey through the end of 2023 and use the survey information to advocate for tax relief for the next two years leading up to the scheduled tax hikes.
In addition to your participation in the tax survey, NCBA is also seeking your personal stories detailing issues with the Death Tax and highlighting some of the problems you have faced with other sections of the tax code. In the lead up to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, NCBA launched the Cattlemen for Tax Reform campaign which included stories about how harmful the Death Tax can be. These stories helped secure estate tax relief for our members, and NCBA is using the same strategy again as we fight the estate tax and push for greater relief. Cattle producers face different tax burdens than the average American family, and we need your assistance with these stories so we can show Congress once again, how burdensome the estate tax can be to farmers and ranchers.
You can fill out the survey by clicking here.
YCLP Class XI— Apps Open Soon!
Online applications will open in January for those interested in participating the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class XI. Created for young cattlemen ages 22-40, the program is designed to give a deeper understanding of the association, the various industry sectors, and personal leadership skills— all while networking with colleagues from across the state. More information about the program and the application will be available online at www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP.
SLE NEws
December was a busy month for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE)! Leadership flew out to Las Vegas for the PRCA Convention prior to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) where they networked with others in the industry and were recognized by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) for winning 2nd Place in the Southeastern Circuit for the Justin Best Footing Award. This award is voted on by the WPRA to celebrate rodeo committees that go above and beyond to ensure safe and consistent ground for the cowgirls to compete on.
As the week progressed, more SLE membership arrived to the bright lights of Las Vegas – including Miss SLE Rodeo Ada Grace Stacey. Ada Grace attended the Miss Rodeo America pageant to cheer on Miss Rodeo Alabama Ashton Libel. Ada Grace was dressed in title and therefore selected to assist the state queens on stage during the Miss Rodeo America Bucks for Bags Auction. Both queens represented our state well!
Another big accomplishment for the SLE is their deeper involvement with the PRCA. SLE sponsored one round of contestant hospitality at the NFR which provided the chance to network one on one with contestants in hopes of drawing more “big names” to Montgomery in March.
After wrapping up in Vegas, the SLE joined together once more to watch the final round of the NFR at the Wetumpka Civic Center at the first ever SLE NFR Watch Party! We are proud to say that several of those who were named world champions that night have graced the dirt in Montgomery!
For your chance to see the top talent in the PRCA right here at the Garrett Coliseum, be sure to snag your tickets to the SLE Rodeo by visiting www.SLERodeo.com/tickets. Don’t forget to check out the event schedule on the website so you don’t miss out on any opportunities during the SLE Rodeo & Livestock Week. We hope to see you at the SLE Rodeo March 15-17, 2024! Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your friends at the SLE!
black vulture legislation IN congress
This month, the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023 was introduced in Congress and was co-sponsored by Alabama Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville. This act aims to allow farmers and ranchers the right to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures without burdensome government interference. The legislation provides regulatory relief by allowing farmers and ranchers to take black vultures any time the birds threaten their livestock without a depredation permit. Currently, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) operates a pilot program that allows state entities, including Alabama, to register for a master permit and disburse sub-permits to livestock producers to safely depopulate black vultures, but this practice creates a patchwork of state regulations whereas a federal permit program would streamline program ease and transparency for producers.
Livestock producers experiencing depredation from black vultures may now apply for a no cost Black Vulture Depredation Sub-Permit through the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. All approved applicants will be allowed to take up to three black vultures as long as the statewide take number has not exceeded 500. If 500 vultures are harvested in the state, applicants will receive an email notifying them that no more vultures may be taken during the permit period. For more information, visit agi.alabama.gov.
Merry Christmas
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and The MOOseum will be closed Monday, December 25- Tuesday, January 2 to observe the holidays. From all of the herd here at the ACA, we hope you and your family have a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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