Beginning in 1944, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association (ACA) has grown to become the largest state cattlemen's association in the nation, now representing over 10,000 members across the state.
Among its many functions, ACA executive vice president Erin Beasley said one of the association's main goals at the state level is to keep bad agriculture policy out of Alabama so cattlemen can remain free to raise their livestock on their own terms.
In a recent episode of "1819 News: The Podcast," Beasley explained more about the ACA's role in the state and its position on certain policies.
"We want to eliminate red tape wherever possible," she said. "The biggest thing in agriculture is the regulatory burdens are just — you just cringe sometimes when you start thinking about them."
She said Alabama has been fortunate so far in warding off oppressive policies infecting other states, but it's an ongoing battle.
"Some of the decisions that are maybe being made in other segments of agriculture, we want to keep that out of Alabama," she said. "We want our folks to be able to raise on the land that they own, protect their private property rights and give them the ability to market their cattle how they want, to raise their cattle, obviously within means, how they want to, and to be able to do that with an independent spirit."
Outside of policy issues, one major topic of discussion, Beasley said, is losing agricultural land in Alabama to other private ventures.
"How do we keep land in agricultural production? I mean, look around. Everything is turning into subdivisions, Amazon, solar panels, you name it," she said. "Where are we going to graze cattle? So if you say, hey, what's something in Alabama we need? Land and ag production is very, I mean, that's important."
Beasley said the ACA is also actively trying to lower the barrier of entry into the cattle business to recruit the next generation of cattlemen.
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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