96 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2024 with the word mandatory. I certainly don’t want someone to mandate how I buy my herd bulls or, as an occasional cattle feeder, I do not want anyone to tell me where or how I have to buy a portion of the calves I put on feed. Therefore, I don’t think it is right to mandate how anyone buys anything. It’s simply un-American in my mind, but I could be wrong. Now is a good time to zoom out on the issue and take a new look. First, let’s define what a competitive market looks like. I went to Google and found this: “In a competitive market, no single consumer or producer has the power to dictate the market. A perfectly competitive market is an ideal market where there are many well-informed buyers and sellers, no barriers to market entry and no possibility of a monopoly.” What sticks out to me besides the obvious monopoly/oligopoly point is the “well-informed” part. Do our current price-reporting tools give us all the information we need to see the total dollars received on each lot of fed cattle purchased by the packer? In many cases I think probably not. I would encourage our feedlot members to come up with a list of ways that market reporting includes every cent received for a group of cattle and what the quality of those cattle is. There is a stark contrast between how we trade fed and feeder cattle in this state. Our feeder cattle market is wonderfully competitive. It is active and visible and reported daily. And if you don’t like the report, you can just go in person about any day of the week and watch the trade happen and discern the quality and value for yourself. While I don’t anticipate that our fed cattle trade will ever be that transparent again, I think we can take steps to improve visibility and quality of market information. If we couple that with support and encouragement for new players in the packing industry, I think it will put us on the path to a healthier industry that can keep family-owned farms and ranches profitable and our small rural communities viable. Other topics the cow-calf producer needs to keep an eye on include, but are not limited to, carbon credits and the whole sustainability marketplace that is developing, and access to capital for the recently inflated cost of doing business and how that impacts getting a new generation of producers involved. These topics and many others were discussed at the NC Convention and are constantly watched by our outstanding staff in Lincoln. They are the most influential agricultural voice in the Unicameral. I would encourage you to reach out to them or anyone on the board with concerns or challenges you are experiencing and/or solutions that can impact our industry positively for the future. Be proud of this wonderful business and life that you are a part of, and appreciate the joy of raising a family with your boots on the ground, taking care of His wonderful creation. It was never promised to be easy, but much meaning and purpose can be gained through the struggle. We must work together to preserve this opportunity for the next generation. This is your organization. It is only as good as the members are active. Get involved! ~NC~ INSIGHTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 of producers from multiple states brings new ideas and considerations. There is much to learn and see, and connecting with old friends and making new ones is a highlight of the gathering. No matter the circumstance that brings us together, may we continue to listen to each other, idea share, dialogue respectfully and fight united for the cattle industry. ~NC~ RUMINATIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 -Your Dark Red Herd Sire HeadquartersMACKLEY SIMMENTALS AND SIMANGUS THE "DYNAMITE" BRAND C-4 -Breeding Simmental Cattle Since 1969C/W Bet on Red REA 104 PRIVATE TREATY BULLS Contact Gary Mackley 79230 Highway 40 Arnold, NE 69120 Home: (308) 848-2634 Cell: (308) 636-8512 FREE WINTERING & DELIVERY ARRANGMENTS - Sires - Freeze Frame - Polled Prairie Fire C/W Bet on Red High Powered Dark Cherry Red Bulls Registered Yearlings and Coming Two's TOP OF THE LINE RED GENETICS 52 YEAR AS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION -ASA#1748
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