The power of the regulatory and legislative sides of federal government, and the potential impacts on our industry, are unequaled

Troy Marshall 2, BEEF Contributing Editor

April 22, 2011

1 Min Read
What Is the Industry's Role In 2012?

The industry’s role in the 2012 national election will be critically important. All we have to do is look at history.

Though the endorsement of George W. Bush for U.S. president by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association was very understandable, it didn’t result in the benefits envisioned. In fact, the costs of that endorsement are being played out even today in USDA's posture on numerous issues.

The power of the regulatory and legislative sides of federal government, and the potential impacts on our industry, are unequaled. That's especially true if you consider that winning the battle for public perception ultimately plays a role in affecting both the regulatory and legislative process. But, the reality is that from a national election perspective, the cattle industry has very little clout.

Conversely, however, the outcome of those elections have significant effects on our business and lifestyle. There are essentially two strategies. You can go with principled stands and specific-issue litmus tests; or you can embrace the reality of a two-party system, pick your majority and work to influence the election of the executive.

The reality is that we don't have the power to effect much influence. So the question becomes one of how we position ourselves to advance our narrow agenda; we must understand that we are supporting actors in a play that will create our future.

About the Author(s)

Troy Marshall 2

BEEF Contributing Editor

Troy Marshall is a multi-generational rancher who grew up in Wheatland, WY, and obtained an Equine Science/Animal Science degree from Colorado State University where he competed on both the livestock and World Champion Horse Judging teams. Following college, he worked as a market analyst for Cattle-Fax covering different regions of the country. Troy also worked as director of commercial marketing for two breed associations; these positions were some of the first to provide direct links tying breed associations to the commercial cow-calf industry.

A visionary with a great grasp for all segments of the industry, Troy is a regular opinion contributor to BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly. His columns are widely reprinted and provide in-depth reporting and commentary from the perspective of a producer who truly understands the economics and challenges of the different industry segments. He is also a partner/owner in Allied Genetic Resources, a company created to change the definition of customer service provided by the seedstock industry. Troy and his wife Lorna have three children. 

Subscribe to Our Newsletters
BEEF Magazine is the source for beef production, management and market news.

You May Also Like