by Rex Wilson
New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association President’s Message
Dear Fellow Members,
It hardly seems possible that we are at August, already rolling through county fairs, getting ready for State Fair. Not far behind that will be the elections.
I have a couple more months to stress to you just how important this year’s elections are to everyone in our state and our nation. I cannot urge each one of you enough to get involved in a campaign and make a difference. There are plenty of worthy Independents, Democrats and Republicans that deserve your support. They can use money, even if the contribution is small, and they can use your time in making personal contacts, putting out signs and more.
One of my least favorite sayings is “The World Is Run By Those Who Show Up.” When you live and work in agriculture sometimes livestock, crops and families don’t let you get away. But unfortunately the saying is true the vast majority of the time. We are fortunate that today’s technology allows us to “show up” in lots of places electronically or by phone. We have no excuse if things don’t turn out the way they need to and we will have no one to blame but ourselves. Let’s not wake up on November 7 to look in a mirror and say “I should have done more.”
Congress will be out of Session for most of August and into September. Make the time to see our representatives and senators and let them know what is important to you and your family. If you need help in scheduling an appointment, contact the NMCGA office and let them help.
The issues our family ranching operations are facing didn’t take any vacation this summer. The New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) was honored for our President Elect, Jose J. Varela Lopez to be invited to testify before the entire U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources late last month. The topic was the horrible fires the West has suffered this summer and how the Endangered Species Act and litigation have literally fanned the flames.
It is interesting that the federal land management agencies don’t have enough funding to do proper management and planning, but when the world is on fire, resources are unlimited. If we managed the forests, everyone and everything would be better off. We have had at least two decades to learn that management cannot be done by the courts.
Meanwhile back in New Mexico, NMCGA has been instrumental with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture bringing all of the affected interested together to declare war on the feral hogs that are so damaging to our ground and crops in addition to carrying tremendous disease potential for man and beast.
An appearance by NMCGA Director John Conniff before the New Mexico House Interim Water & Natural Resources Committee may have finally gotten the attention of at least one railroad owner. The message is clear that the statutory responsibility to fence and maintain fencing on railroad right-of-ways is not a mere suggestion, but a responsibility no matter how big you are.
I want to close by once again urging everyone who isn’t a member to join the NMCGA. If you are a member, please get a friend or neighbor to join. Our Association works very hard to be worthy of your membership. These are just a few of the issues that the Association addresses every day!
We will keep praying for rain and look forward to seeing you down the road.