Throughout the past 100 years, the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association has been advocating for rancher’s rights and addressing issues that impact beef producers.

Many of the concerns that existed when the association formed in 1913 still exist, Curtis Martin, association president, said Thursday, the first day of the group’s annual convention in Bend.

But other concerns, such as environmental policy and interactions with government, have been growing over the years, he said.

“Our society has changed in the fact that there is more scrutiny,” Martin said. “There’s probably more interest in how we handle our natural resources, where back in the early 1900s it was more of a production-oriented philosophy of whatever we’ve got to do to create product and food, we’ll do.”

Nearly 400 ranchers from across the state, as well as industry experts from throughout the country, are expected to attend the three-day event at The Riverhouse Convention Center, said Kay Teisl, executive director of the Cattlemen’s Association.

“This is such an optimistic time for the beef industry,” she said, adding membership is the highest it’s been in the last seven or eight years. “We’ve got more young people registered here than ever before.”

During the convention, members will receive updates on key issues that affect the industry, such as the Endangered Species Act, government water-quality standards and grazing on public lands. They can also attend presentations on meat science, breeding, animal health and other topics, she said.

Teisl agreed many of the issues are similar when looking back over the past 100 years. However, she said, the level of technology and research has allowed the industry to evolve. Almost twice as much beef per animal is produced today compared to the 1950s and ’60s, she said.

Martin said cattle prices are higher than they have ever been with ranchers seeing the highest financial benefit from cattle in years.

“While our cow numbers have declined, the beef production has increased and that’s due to better genetics, better technology, pharmaceuticals and management practices,” he said.

Oregon Cattlemen’s Association members are scheduled to hear today from Scott George, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

George said the No. 1 item from a national perspective is legislation that will address conservation programs, provide disaster assistance to ranchers and generate research dollars for the industry.

Issues relating to grazing on public lands and the Endangered Species Act, both of which impact Oregon, are also being pursued at the national level, he said.

“When we talk about the environment here, I think cattle producers are absolutely the front line,” George said. “We are the original environmentalist. We want clean water, we want clean land, we want clean air.”

— Reporter: 541-617-7818,

rrees@bendbulletin.com