The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association held the 2026 Legislative Conference last week in Washington D.C. where cattle producers and state affiliates from across the country met with their legislators.
NCBA President Gene Copenhaver said, “NCBA’s Legislative Conference is where grassroots policy meets action. Our members traveled to Washington to share real-world perspectives from their operations and reinforce why strong, commonsense policies are essential to keeping family farms and ranches viable for the next generation. From protecting animal health to advancing regulatory reform, NCBA members are leading the charge on behalf of the entire cattle industry.” These cattle producers covered several issues including, ”The delisting the gray wolf and passing the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, Advancing passage of a new Farm Bill and Supporting funding for research, management, and control of the Longhorned tick and the diseases it carries.”
According to NCBA, “In addition to Capitol Hill meetings, NCBA members participated in discussions with key federal agencies. Producers met with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Agricultural Marketing Service, as well as representatives from the Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Environmental Protection Agency. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach addressed attendees, discussing the impact of the Working Families Tax Cuts and economic support for rural America. Producers also received a demonstration of new tools from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service designed to enhance transparency and market opportunities within the cattle industry.”
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.