USDA Names Dr. Justin Benavidez as Chief Economist, NCBA Responds The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the appointment of Dr. Justin Benavidez as USDA’s new Chief Economist, a key leadership role responsible for guiding economic analysis and forecasting across the department. Agricultural organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), are welcoming the decision and highlighting the importance of …
US Secretary of Agriculture Announces Action to Protect US Farmland
USDA Announces New Farm Security Actions to Protect Agricultural Research and Innovation U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a series of coordinated actions focused on agricultural research, innovation, and national security through USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan. The initiatives are designed to strengthen oversight of foreign involvement in U.S. agriculture while ensuring federal programs prioritize American farmers, …
Cattlemen’s Beef Board Shares Details on the Beef Checkoff Program
Beef Checkoff Program Builds Demand and Adds Value for Cattle Producers The beef checkoff program works every day on behalf of cattle producers to strengthen beef demand, grow markets, and increase the value of every animal. Through research, promotion, and market development, the program ensures that producer dollars are invested strategically and responsibly to benefit the entire beef industry. To …
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Highlighting Membership Mailing
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Kicks Off 2026 Membership Mailing Membership is the lifeblood of any cattlemen’s association, and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) is starting the new year by highlighting its first membership mailing for 2026. The mailing is now circulating, and ACA leaders want producers across the state to know what to expect—and why renewing membership is so important. We …
USMEF Highlights Protein Demand and Export Opportunities
USMEF Highlights Strong Global Protein Demand and Export Opportunities for 2026 The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is spotlighting strong global protein demand and expanding export opportunities as the industry looks ahead to the new year and into 2026. According to USMEF President and CEO Dan Hallstrom, international markets continue to offer significant growth potential for U.S. beef, pork, and …
USDA Announces Payment Rates By Commodity For Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
USDA Releases Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Payment Rates The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially released the long-awaited payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, providing clarity and certainty for producers planning for the 2026 growing season. Announced late last year, the FBA Program delivers $12 billion in total assistance, with $11 billion allocated to row crop …
NCBA President Elect Looks Forward to Serving in 2026
NCBA Prepares for Officer Transition at CattleCon 2026 The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) will officially change officers during CattleCon 2026, scheduled for February in Nashville, Tennessee. As the organization prepares for the transition, NCBA President-elect Gene Copenhaver is already focused on the priorities he hopes to advance when he assumes the presidency. Copenhaver recently shared what he is most …
GCC ‘Appreciative’ of FBA Program, Payment Rate
By Clint Thompson The announcement this week made by U.S. Ag Secretary Brooke L. Rollins regarding the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program focused on the the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. As announced in early December, $12 billion in the program will be paid to American producers in 2026, of which $11 billion divvied out to eligible row crop producers. …
Valent USA Shares How Conservation Efforts Matter For Agriculture Producers
Valent USA Emphasizes Conservation Practices That Deliver Results for Growers Conservation practices continue to play an increasingly important role in modern agricultural production, especially as growers face tighter margins and rising input costs. To learn more about how conservation and profitability can work together, we caught up with Tiffany Dean, Vice President of Sustainable Solutions with Valent USA, to discuss …
Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Inductees
NCBA Annual Meeting Heads to Nashville with Hall of Fame Inductions The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) annual meeting is just over a month away, and anticipation is building across the beef industry. Scheduled for February 3rd through the 5th, the 2026 NCBA convention will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing together cattle producers, feeders, and industry leaders from across …










