Agriculture

Stockgrowers take position on ranch issues

Posted: Dec 16, 2012 8:35 AM by David Jay MTN News

BILLINGS - Ranchers from around the state say brucellosis in bison and animals that prey on cattle are still major issues.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association voted on resolutions dealing with those and other issues, during it's business meeting on the final day of its 128th annual convention in Billings.

Property rights, funding agencies that manage wildlife, helping veterinary students and rapid response fund to help consumers were also topics drawing a bulk of discussion Saturday.

The stockgrowers also say they want to improve educational outreach to consumers, so they can better deal with beef recalls.

"What happens to one person in this industry affects everybody all the way down the line," said Montana Stockgrowers Association President Watty Taylor.

"So if something happens at food service, case of E-coli or something like that, it affects us all the way down the line to the cow-calf producer," he added.

The ranchers discussed and debated during it's morning session and approved resolutions at the afternoon business meeting. About 600 members attended the convention.