HAT Meets Next NCBA President
The cattle industry’s annual convention is at the end of January in San Antonio, Texas, and that’s when Steve Foglesong from Astoria in west central Illinois will assume the presidency of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Recently Hoosier Ag Today had a chance to cover a number of topics with Steve.
It will be an important year for the association as it works on key issues facing farmers and ranchers. One issue is the death tax. Foglesong says they would like to see meaningful reform in that area. The death tax, or estate tax, expired on January 1st, but it’s just a one-year layoff. It is scheduled to return in 2011 at a 55% rate, and the exemption reduced to $1 million. That compares to the 2009 rate of 45% and exemptions of $3.5 million for an individual and $7 million for a couple.
NCBA is also concerned about possible regulatory moves, including EPA changing current dust standards. That could significantly impact farmers and even a former TV superhero.
Agriculture continues to look for ways to convey positive messages to consumers. Foglesong told HAT that will always be a top issue, but it’s even more challenging because of the media.
Hear what Foglesong has to say:
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