Beltway Beef

On this episode, NCBA member and Iowa cattle producer Shayne Wiese joins to discuss his experience utilizing voluntary conservation programs from the 2018 Farm Bill. As Congress is developing the next Farm Bill, Wiese provided essential insight on his experience accessing these programs for his own cattle operation and working with local U.S. Department of Agriculture staff. Wiese also highlighted...

On this episode, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Rivera provides an update on an important piece of transportation in the supply chain: trains. Rivera explains how rail lines provide essential feed and fuel to cattle operations and she highlights NCBA's new grassroots policy on issues impacting rail service.

On this episode, NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart joins to discuss the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, a bill introduced in Congress by Senators John Thune, Kyrsten Sinema, John Boozman, and Mark Kelly, that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating the naturally occurring emissions from cattle operations. Hart also highlighted the continuous innovation that has le...

On this episode, NCBA’s Chief Veterinarian Dr. Kathy Simmons joins to discuss the Asian Longhorned Tick, an extremely aggressive tick that can cause stress and severe blood loss in cattle. The tick also can transmit diseases to cattle such as bovine Theileriosis, a disease that causes anemia, failure to grow (ill-thrift), persistent infection, reproductive problems, and in some cases, death. The t...

On this episode, NCBA Environmental Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart joins to discuss NCBA’s fight against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s overreaching greenhouse gas disclosure rule. Hart details the origins of the rule and the harm it could cause to cattle producers. Hart also highlights NCBA’s grassroots campaign against the rule, which resulted in over 6,000 cattle producers sharing thei...

On this episode, Associate Director of PLC and NCBA Natural Resources Sigrid Johannes joins to discuss the unforeseen consequences that Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings can have on ranchers. Johannes discusses how NCBA and PLC are working together to advocate for science-based, state-led management of species like the gray wolf and the northern long-eared bat. Johannes also talks about the ne...

NCBA’s Environmental Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart joins the podcast to discuss the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) greenhouse gas emissions reporting rule that would require publicly traded companies to disclose their Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (energy use), and Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions. As part of this rule, farmers and ranchers who sell to publicly traded companies would be responsib...

On this episode, public policy intern Grace Vehige hosts Reba Mazak, American National Cattle Women (ANCW) president, to discuss the organization’s recent fly-in. ANCW, a close partner with NCBA, plays an important role in advocating on behalf of the cattle industry. Tune in to hear Reba's insight on topics of importance to their membership and why it is critical for cattle producers to make their...

On this episode, Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access Kent Bacus joins to discuss NCBA’s stance on trade, how we hold our trade partners to high safety standards, and why a trade deal between the U.S. and UK is a top priority.

This week, Tanner Beymer joins the podcast to discuss the cattle markets hearings that occurred in both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee this past week. Beymer shares that NCBA is focused on securing practical solutions – that have broad industry support – to increase market transparency and boost producer leverage in pricing negotiations.

NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover joins the podcast to give an update on the work being done to ensure clear and consistent environmental regulations for cattle producers. As the Biden administration undergoes processes to repeal and replace Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules, NCBA is working...

Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane joins the podcast to give an update on the work being done by NCBA’s Government Affairs team. Lane discusses the latest legislative and regulatory proposals and encourages members to be engaged in the policy process through conversations with their elected officials.

Recently, NCBA President Don Schiefelbein joined Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane and Senior Director of International Trade & Market Access Kent Bacus in London to set the stage for a potential trade deal with the United Kingdom. Tune in to hear Schiefelbein discuss why free and fair trade deals are essential to increase carcass value and export more high-quality U.S. beef to count...

NCBA’s Environmental Counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart, joins the podcast to discuss why this year’s focus on conservation during National Ag Day is a significant moment for the U.S. agriculture industry, especially cattle farmers and ranchers. Through innovative voluntary conservation efforts, producers across the country are making decisions that have a direct impact on maintaining clean water, improvin...

This week, NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane sits down with Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee GT Thompson. Tune in to hear Lane and Thompson discuss why industry input is critical as Farm Bill discussions begin, and what can be done to address cattle marketing challenges faced by producers across the country. Even in the midst of partisan gridlock, Thompson und...

Joining us on this episode of Beltway Beef is NCBA member J.J. Goicoechea, a fourth-generation rancher from east-central Nevada. He discusses the Biden administration’s 30x30 or “America the Beautiful” initiative, in which they intend to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s water and land by 2030. NCBA and industry partners, including the Public Lands Council, have worked hard to help decision make...

On this episode, NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources Kaitlynn Glover joins to discuss a recent U.S. District Court decision to remand and vacate a Trump administration decision to remove Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections from gray wolves, essentially relisting the species. Glover shares how, despite rhetoric from animal activist groups, the gray wolf population is one of the most s...

Kim Brackett, an Idaho native, owns Brackett Ranches with her husband and four children. As a cow-calf producer, Kim understands the importance of making conservation decisions that contribute to rangeland health, wildfire mitigation, and habitat recovery. Taking care of the land and setting the future generation up for success is a top priority for Brackett. In this episode, she discusses her exp...

Luis Martinez, counselor for agricultural affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in the United States, and Gizem Eras, counsellor of agriculture and fisheries at the Embassy of Canada in the United States, sit down with Ashley and NCBA's Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access Kent Bacus to discuss the importance of free trade agreements and the excellent working relationship they have...

Incoming NCBA President Don Schiefelbein sits down with Ashley at the the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show to discuss his year as president and NCBA's top priorities for the year ahead. A cow-calf producer from Minnesota, Schiefelbein is committed to carrying out NCBA's member-led grassroots policy and looks forward to serving cattle and beef producers from across the country th...

On this episode, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane discusses NCBA's upcoming convention and, specifically, the member-led grassroots policy process that sets NCBA apart from other cattle organizations. Lane shares how members will set the direction for the next year in areas that range from live cattle marketing to federal taxes to sustainability.

NCBA’s Environmental Counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart, joins the podcast to discuss the report recently released by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC). In their report FRRCC provided recommendations that directly align with NCBA’s policy stances on several topics under EPA jurisdiction, including Waters of the United States (WOTUS). H...

CEO Colin Woodall joins the podcast to discuss the work that NCBA has done on behalf of farmers and ranchers this year. He shares how the D.C. policy team worked diligently to build relationships with the new administration and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Through fighting hard to ensure the future of farms and ranches aren’t threatened by massive tax hikes and working with deci...

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the extension of livestock mandatory reporting (LMR) through September 30, 2022 and passed the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021. NCBA has led the charge in facilitating opportunities for greater market transparency and worked with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to secure passage of this important legislation. Tune in to hear...

On this episode of Beltway Beef, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane and Executive Director of Natural Resources Kaitlynn Glover sit down for a conversation with Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources Bruce Westerman. As a forester by trade, he understands the real-life impact of the land management decisions being made on Capitol Hill. Westerman discusses the...