R-CALF USA Convention Draws Record Crowds

This year’s R-CALF USA Convention in Deadwood, South Dakota drew record crowds. The list of speakers included keynoter Lara Logan, who is a former 60 minutes correspondent. Topics covered at the meeting include the farm bill, beef checkoff reform and USDA’s RFID mandate. According to CEO Bill Bullard, the RFID tag rule is concerning. “We have no problem with the technology, but our objection to the government mandate is the government mandate. We have members voluntarily using RFID ear tags on their cattle and receiving a premium for it, but once the government mandates that all producers use this those members that are receiving a premium will see it evaporate.”