Iowa Ag News Headlines ICA Members Work on Two Capitol Hills Iowa Ag Connection - 04/23/2012 It's been a busy two weeks for leaders of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association. They have been to both the nation's Capital and the Iowa Capitol to discuss legislative issues. Five Iowans made the trip to Washington, D.C., last week to join about 300 cattle producers from around the country who attended NCBA's Legislative Conference. ICA President Ross Havens said Iowa's elected representatives heard them, understanding that they represented the thoughts and ideas of 9,500 ICA members. "They understand that the strength of Iowa's economy is in agriculture, so they listened to the concerns we brought to them," Havens said. "While we'd like to see the 'death tax' go away, everyone's on board with holding it at its current level," Havens said. Under current rules, the estate tax is 35% for the part of the estate that exceeds $5 million. Congress needs to act this year to keep it there; otherwise it reverts to pre-2001 levels of 55% on estates over $1 million. Havens said Iowa's U.S. Senators and Representatives also are on the same page regarding recent court rulings regarding antibiotics. On Apr. 13 of this year, a federal court decision would require FDA to prove the safety of penicillin and tetracyclines for use in livestock feed. ICA, NCBA and Iowa's congressional delegation all agree that the court should not be involved in such decisions. Cattle producers work with veterinarians to implement herd health practices and the judicious use of antibiotics every day, and that relationship should continue without court interference. Earlier this month, about 30 members of the ICA board provided both food for thought and ribeye steak sandwiches at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. The ICA board of directors met at the Capitol for their April meeting, and took the opportunity to make one-on-one contacts with their House and Senate district representatives. ICA also served more than 650 steak sandwiches to legislators, their staffs, and other state employees, including Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Bill Ehm, the administrator for Environmental Protection Division of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. To end the day's meeting, most of the ICA board members traveled to Iowa State University in Ames where they participated in an educational event about lean, finely textured beef. The event was organized by the Block and Bridle Club, and included speakers from the meat science department, American Meat Institute, and Iowa Beef Industry Council. Send this article to a friend Other Iowa Headlines Branstad Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for 19 Counties Poll: Farmer Philanthropy Important to Community Development Iowa Suspends Dealer License of Verified Grains Derailed Train Ethanol Cars Removed from Little Cedar River IFB Lauds Progress on Water Quality, Soil Conservation, Property Taxes Remember Safe Farming Practices for Spring Planting Cars Continue Leaking Ethanol in Charles City Derailment Copyright © 2013 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.