Evaluating the Future of Livestock Production

Collectively, beef, poultry, pork and dairy producers represent corn growers’ number-one customer, consuming 4.4 billion bushels annually. Corn used directly as feed represents nearly 60% of consumption,

however, industrial co-products used as feed represents another 20% of corn usage. The co-products of industrial processing are largely fed to ruminants domestically and internationally. The ability to sell these co-products profitably can indicate the potential financial success of certain industrial processes, such as ethanol production. With the majority of U.S. corn being fed to domestic livestock, it is of utmost importance to work with this industry to address issues of mutual concern.

The climate of agriculture and livestock production has changed gravely in the past decade. As more regulations are imposed and stricter guidelines are suggested for production practices, livestock production is being forced out of the United States to other countries. NCGA is gathering information and conducting a survey on moratoriums and regulations that inhibit livestock production to create a baseline of information regarding the legal atmosphere of livestock production. This baseline will serve as a starting point for developing the pro-livestock media campaign and working with sister organizations that represent livestock production to address the anti-livestock sentiment expressed by this restrictive legislation.

The NCGA Corn Board will serve as a liaison with these organizations to represent the interest of corn growers.