Next director's meeting:  May 13th, 6:30 pm at the Keuterville Pub & Grub

The first director’s meeting of the year was held February 4th at the Cottonwood Livestock Auction Café.  We enjoyed a potluck dinner  and planned dates for the events this year.  Leon Slichter spoke about happenings with the Idaho Cattlemen Association.

We are once again raising a steer to sell at the Lewis County Fair.  Mike Howard will raise the steer and is looking into having half the feed donated with the ILCCA paying for the other half.

The calendar of events page shows the dates of our functions this year.  We are hoping to have the trail ride in the Joseph Plains area.  If you would like to help planning this event, please contact Steve Sonnen (962-7703).

The director’s voted in favor of supporting Leon Slichter with $600 for travel expenditures throughout the year.

Leon spoke about what’s going on with the ICA, which is a busy group!  He informed us that PETA has a $90 million/yr budget which they are using against our interests.  There is a bill in committee at the legislature that would no longer allow cowdogs or hounds for hunting because it is considered animal cruelty.

The dairy industry has a $.15/cwt checkoff for legal defense, which has been effective against PETA.  The ICA has proposed a $.25 per head checkoff for the same purpose.  It is currently at the state legislature.  This will allow the beef industry in our state to become proactive instead of reactive.

The ICA proposed and it was recently approved to raise the Idaho Beef Council checkoff to $1.50.  It has not been changed for nearly 20 years and the spending power of the dollar has decreased significantly since then.

Leon reported that the EPA is working in Idaho this year on air quality standards.  Stray dust from tillage and chopped hay may cause problems.

The ICA is currently working on several other issues as well.  They would like to see horse slaughter legalized again.  It is considered in congress each year, and is currently not allowed.  This is a large industry when legalized.  In recent years 90,000 head per year were slaughtered for human consumption with much of that being shipped to France and Japan. 

The ICA is in favor of carbon sequestration and the COOL program, but only on a volunteer basis.  The ICA is aware the ethanol is not good for the livestock industry, as it raises the cost of feed.  They are also dealing with brucollosis issues near Yellowstone with elk and buffalo.

If you have further questions about any of these issues or would like to voice your opinion, you may call Leon at 983-0248.