NCBA Priorities Heard in D.C.

Nebraska cattle producer and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Buck Wehrbein testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Wednesday, outlining key policy priorities for the American cattle industry. Wehrbein noted that while market conditions and consumer demand for beef remain strong, challenges persist for producers.

He urged Congress to pass a Farm Bill that includes provisions for animal health, voluntary conservation efforts, and risk management tools. Additionally, he highlighted the role of the Beef Checkoff program in promoting beef demand, consumer education, and research funding, while acknowledging ongoing opposition.

Wehrbein also called for measures to protect the cattle industry from the potential spread of New World screwworm, a pest currently in Mexico. He recommended investment in sterile fly production facilities to prevent its spread into the U.S. Other legislative priorities he discussed included tax policy changes, such as eliminating the Death Tax, maintaining beef’s inclusion in federal dietary guidelines, supporting public lands ranching, and reducing regulatory burdens on cattle producers.

For more on his testimony, visit: https://www.ncba.org/ncba-news/news-releases/news/details/42042/ncba-president-testifies-before-congress-on-state-of-the-cattle-industry