At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Ethan Lane. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Following the signing of The One Big Beautiful Bill, Ethan Lane emphasized the importance of closely monitoring how the executive branch implements what Congress has passed. “The lawmaking is done, now the regulatory side kicks off,” he explained, highlighting that NCBA’s team—like Kent Bacus—will transition from lobbying efforts to overseeing the implementation process. “All that knowledge coming out of this process the last two years translates directly into the implementation phase,” Lane noted.

One concern Lane raised is how accurately agencies will follow congressional intent. “It’s the telephone game, right? Best intentions of Congress then have to be implemented by the agencies,” he warned. He stressed that this process is even more delicate in a “post-Chevron deference world,” where federal agencies have far less leeway. “They’re gonna have to stay within those confines in a way that historically they haven’t had to,” Lane said, referencing potential legal challenges if agencies overreach.

Despite major wins in the legislation, Lane made clear that NCBA’s work is far from over. “We still have a host of issues that we need to work on,” he said, pointing to threats like the New World screwworm at the southern border and critical trade efforts. “There’s a lot of meat left on this bone,” Lane remarked. He also emphasized the $400-per-head value of export markets and added, “We’re making headway on the UK deal… This bill was massively consequential… but there is always more to work on.”

Lane also offered political insight ahead of the 2025 midterms. “Democrats have failed to figure out what that counterargument looks like,” he observed. He noted divisions within the Democratic party over issues like DEI and policy relevance in the “Trump 2.0 era.” Lane added, “There’s all this historic data… Republicans should lose ground at the midterms… but the Democrats have to show up and make an argument—and so far, we haven’t seen them do that in a cohesive way.”

Finally, Lane reminded listeners that while legislation is important, voters typically focus on economic conditions. “Jobs and the economy, jobs and the economy, jobs and the economy—that’s what drives voters to the polls, period,” he stated. He predicted that if Americans feel better off financially by the time of the midterms, it could spell trouble for Democrats. “If people feel like, ‘hey, my business is doing better’, that is going to be a tougher hill to climb for Democrats than it otherwise would be,” Lane concluded.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Ethan Lane on Legislative Wins and the Road to Implementation first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Erin Borror from the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Erin Borror outlined the complexities of exporting U.S. beef to the European Union, citing high production costs and regulatory hurdles. “You’re looking at an incredibly expensive product, the never, ever type concept, right? So non-hormone-treated cattle,” she explained. Despite having a 35,000-ton duty-free quota, the U.S. is currently utilizing only 43% of it. “The costs of producing for Europe are tremendous, trying to pass on that beef price into the European market does just limit the total market potential.”

Borror also highlighted recent developments with the United Kingdom, noting that while access had been lost due to Brexit, some has now been regained. “It’s about 8,700 metric tons right now. It started on June 30. We’re honestly still trying to work out the mechanics of like, literally, how this quota can be utilized,” she said. Although the UK access comes with “zero tariff,” the beef must still meet all EU requirements, making it “that very high-cost product.”

The Middle East offers important export value, particularly in specialty meats. “If you count Egypt in the Middle East, then that would be heavily livers, also some kidneys,” Borror stated. She also pointed out growing demand in high-end markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “We remain, you know, very reliant on the Egyptian market for those variety meats,” while also targeting “higher-end retail and food service demand” in other Gulf countries.

Africa is another region Borror finds promising, especially for pork variety meats. “There is potential,” she said, explaining that Europe currently dominates the region. “We are so reliant on China… can we do business basically at cost, to try to get some of that channel going?” She credited Matt Copeland, who runs USMEF operations in Africa, for “constantly… discovering new kind of matchmaking opportunities.”

Looking ahead, Borror emphasized trade negotiations and the importance of reducing barriers. “We have very high barriers in [Southeast Asia]. It’s tariff and non-tariff,” she noted, adding that the August 1 deadline for reciprocal tariffs looms large. On China, she said, “We need a wider engagement breakthrough to where we can have our beef access restored.” She remains cautiously optimistic, saying, “I’m trying to remain optimistic for breakthroughs with these countries.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Erin Borror: The Never Ever Challenge in Europe Continues  first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Jason Skaggs, CEO of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Concerns over the New World screwworm have risen sharply among cattle producers in the Southwest, and Jason Skaggs confirmed it has become a major concern since late 2023. “It’s New World screw worms been top of mind since, really, about last October for us,” Skaggs said, noting the seriousness with which the association is tracking its northward movement. “You read all the old history books, talk to a lot of the old timers, and they tell you how bad it was.” Skaggs also reminded producers that TSCRA maintains a strong presence in Oklahoma, where its special rangers and members are staying alert to the potential threat.

Skaggs emphasized the ongoing U.S. efforts to contain the pest in Panama and Mexico, including support for the COPEG sterile fly facility. But with the pest moving again, the organization is working to raise awareness. “We’re trying to get people educated, you know, a whole new generation now, folks that have never had to deal with it,” Skaggs explained. He said they’re “really trying to revamp and re-up all of our efforts,” while also taking “a few pages out of the playbook from the past.”

In terms of response, Skaggs praised Brooke Rollins and USDA officials for acting quickly, noting the recent announcement of a new sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. “Secretary Rollins has been a stalwart for us on this… She announced a new fly disbursement facility down in the Moore Airfield, Mission, Texas area,” he shared. He described the response as being both short- and long-term oriented, saying “we’re certainly looking at all options.”

He also addressed proposed federal legislation that would fund a domestic sterile fly production facility. “We still think that’s the tried, true method of battling this pest… meaning in Texas that we can produce our own flies,” Skaggs stated. “We need to have that on our own facility here that’s funded, hopefully by the federal government.” While prevention remains the goal, he warned, “we also want to make sure that we’re ready, in case they do” arrive.

Finally, Skaggs noted the increasing workload for the association’s special rangers, especially in Oklahoma and Texas, amid growing rural crime. “They work all day and night on cattle theft cases, livestock theft cases, but also complicated cases—bank fraud, check fraud,” he said. “We’ve got 30 special Rangers scattered all through Texas and Oklahoma. They’re solely funded from our membership dues,” he added, expressing pride in their critical role protecting ranchers and livestock owners across the region.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post New World Screwworm Threat Puts Southwest Cattle Industry on High Alert first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Sigrid Johannes from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Washington, D.C. office. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Sigrid Johannes addressed the policy concerns surrounding the upcoming dietary guidelines, particularly in contrast to the scientific report released in December. “That scientific report was not good for us,” she said, citing “bogus recommendations” like swapping meat and eggs for legumes. Johannes emphasized that such substitutions aren’t nutritionally equivalent and critiqued the report’s outdated warnings about saturated fat. “There was also a lot of language in there about saturated fat and the dangers of red meat, even though the United States as a whole is within 1% of meeting our saturated fat target.”

Despite the challenges presented in the report, Johannes remained optimistic about the industry’s efforts to influence the final guidelines. “The good news is we’ve done a lot of work since December to improve the final guidelines,” she stated. She pointed out a key distinction between the preliminary scientific report and the actual guidelines, which she expects to be more favorable to beef producers. “There’s a lot of debate about how impartial [the scientific report] really is. It’s cooked up by 30 hand-selected people not open to a lot of public engagement.”

Johannes also discussed the new approach being taken with the upcoming guidelines, applauding efforts to streamline the final document. “They are streamlining and cutting this down quite a bit. I’m excited to read seven pages instead of 500.” She stressed that simplification would benefit the public: “That’s not helpful when it comes to somebody making their grocery list So I think cutting it down, making it a lot clearer and simpler for Americans, is a really good move.” Read more about the dietary guidelines process here.

Turning to the broader “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, Johannes explained its origins and potential impact. “It really sort of came together before President Trump even began his second term,” she noted, describing it as a coalition of parents, educators, and health advocates seeking alternatives to establishment medicine. “The ramifications for the cattle industry have been pretty wide and varied one place where this really comes out to play is the dietary guidelines,” she added, also referencing the MaHA Commission’s work on obesity and chronic disease.

Looking ahead, Johannes expressed concern about regulatory shifts tied to MAHA’s second major report, due August 12. “The report caused a lot of concern in some parts of Ag,” she said, citing criticism of pesticides and GMOs. However, she was relieved that beef was treated fairly: “The only place that beef was mentioned was to talk about what a good source of protein we are.” excitingly, we know the beef checkoff was cited as a source, Shalene McNeill said ” we saw in the Make America Healthy Again initial report that some of our Beef Checkoff research was actually cited, acknowledging the health benefits of beef eating.” Still, vigilance remains essential. “We want to make sure that none of the good work that Maha is doing gets spun off in the wrong direction by making it harder for us to raise cattle,” she concluded, especially with regard to critical tools like antibiotics and growth promotants.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post NCBA’s Sigrid Johannes: Final Dietary Guidelines Expected to Favor Beef After Early Setbacks first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with the Executive Director for Nutrition, Health, and Wellness at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Dr. Shalene McNeil. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Dr. Shalene McNeill expressed anticipation over the forthcoming dietary guidelines, which are currently being finalized. “We’re anxiously awaiting the release of the 2025 to 2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” she said, noting that the process began under the Biden administration and will wrap up under the Trump administration. McNeill highlighted a sense of optimism despite concerns from earlier drafts, stating, “From all accounts, I think we’re expecting potentially to see some maybe big changes in that report that we’re optimistic about.”

One major concern raised by the advisory committee’s initial recommendations was the suggestion to replace beef with plant-based proteins like beans, peas, and lentils. McNeill pushed back on that logic, emphasizing the nutritional distinctions: “From a nutrition standpoint, that was really concerning we know that beef isn’t interchangeable with beans, peas, and lentils.” She added, “They’re great sources of fiber and other nutrients, but they don’t replace that high-quality protein in beef.” In response, the Beef Checkoff has worked diligently to contribute scientific research supporting the health benefits of beef consumption.

McNeill also described how the new administration appears more receptive to data showing beef’s nutritional value. “We actually saw in the Make America Healthy Again initial report that some of our Beef Checkoff research was actually cited,” she noted. This shift suggests a renewed focus on science, with agencies pledging to do “a line-by-line review of what the advisory committee recommended.” McNeill emphasized the consistency of evidence showing beef’s role in a healthy diet: “Research over the last decade or two has really consistently started to show there’s such great benefits of increasing the amount of protein in your diet.”

Looking ahead, McNeill suggested that the next set of guidelines might align more closely with public interest in whole, fresh foods. “We’ve heard that it’ll be a shorter report,” she shared, while also noting a “revisiting this idea of coming back to real, whole foods, fresh foods, single-ingredient foods like beef.” She believes this change fits growing consumer preferences: “Beef is just a wholesome, nutritious food that supports a balanced diet,” adding that more families, especially moms, are looking to “get back to the basics with healthy eating.”

Finally, McNeill underscored why these guidelines matter so much to beef producers and consumers alike. “If it’s not in the dietary guidelines, it’s not going to be on the school lunch program, it’s not going to be in our military feeding program,” she explained. Beyond federal programs, the guidelines shape how health professionals view and recommend food. “It’s really critical that we ensure that beef is recognized and acknowledged,” McNeill concluded, reaffirming her commitment to making sure “beef is recommended as part of a wholesome and balanced diet.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Dr. Shalene McNeill Optimistic About Beef’s Role in New Dietary Guidelines first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the recent Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with senior animal protein analyst from Terrain, Don Close. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Don Close described the current cattle market as one of the most unique and strongest he’s ever witnessed, driven by two key factors: robust beef demand and surprising price resilience across all weight classes. “The big drivers [are] just how solid beef demand is, the consumer has been incredibly committed with us on this rally,” he said. He also noted, “It’s really unique to see the price levels we’re seeing with all weight classes of cattle, but particularly with calves,” emphasizing the restraint cow-calf producers have shown in expanding herds despite the strong market.

When asked about herd rebuilding, Close expressed skepticism that the U.S. cow herd is in meaningful expansion yet. He pointed to the upcoming Cattle on Feed report as critical. “I’m kind of holding my breath here till I get that cattle on feed report to make a complete reevaluation of the market at that time.” That report, especially the breakdown of heifers and steers, will be a “bellwether for the remainder of the year,” he said, adding that heifer retention will determine how much expansion is truly underway.

Close offered a clear benchmark for measuring true herd expansion, stating, “I’m of the belief that we’ve got to get below 36% of heifers as a percent on feed to mathematically be expanding.” He explained that while cow slaughter has slowed, “I don’t think we can expand by not killing cows, we’re totally dependent on the retention rate on those heifers.” For context, he reminded listeners that during the last major expansion cycle, from 2014 to 2015, heifer placements dropped to around 32%.

Turning to consumer trends, Close emphasized the growing importance of ground beef in the beef sector’s economic picture. “If we’re going to succeed in the beef business, we’ve got to feed that beef ground beef market,” he stated. He believes ground beef may now represent as much as 57% of total beef consumption: “I would argue I think we could easily be into the 57% level.” This growing demand has driven more rounds and chucks into the grind category, consuming a substantial amount of fed-quality beef.

Lastly, Close highlighted a shift in consumer behavior at retail, especially around premium ground beef offerings. “Absolutely true, particularly the specialty markets, the prime ground beef, the branded ground beef, even wagyu ground beef — there is a full spectrum being offered out there, which is great,” he said. These high-end products are selling at a premium and are evidence of consumers’ continued willingness to spend on beef, even amid tight supplies and higher prices.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Ground Beef Drives the Beef Business – Don Close on Consumer Demand and Market Trends first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the recent Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with the President and CEO of US Meat Export Federation Dan Halstrom. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Yesterday, we featured the first part of our conversation with Halstrom- click here to read and listen to that Beef Buzz. Today, Dan Halstrom emphasized that despite current challenges, particularly the loss of access to China, global demand for U.S. beef remains strong going into the second half of 2025. “We got to remain flexible around China,” Hallstrom noted, “but with that in mind, demand… even at a $400 choice cutout, is still moving. It is not slowing down.” He highlighted surprising strength from regions like Central America and Mexico, which traditionally weren’t viewed as high-spending markets but “continue to buy,” offering a positive outlook despite trade obstacles.

While acknowledging a slight decline in exports—“we’re down about 5% year to date on volume… about 3% down on value”—Halstrom framed it as expected. He said, “our forecast for the year… was down between five and 7%… which means that we’re going to continue to have very good demand.” He pointed out that regaining access to China could quickly reverse that trend. “If you throw China back in that mix, those numbers improve,” he said. “That, of course, is the hope and a goal.”

On the potential for renewed trade ties with China, Halstrom was clear about its massive impact: “You’re looking at 80 to $100 a head of our $400 a head is China.” The absence of Chinese demand has created ripple effects in Asia. “Part of the reason Japan, Korea and Taiwan aren’t higher is because of China,” he said, but emphasized that “more customers are better than less.” He believes that if China were to return, “the total value will go up, and that’s the ultimate goal.”

In response to China’s absence, Halstrom explained that USMEF is strategically shifting efforts to other Asian markets. “We’re doubling down now without China,” he said. “Retail is big, food service, especially in Japan.” Citing a rebound in Japanese tourism, Halstrom said, “we’re going to be at 40 million visitors this year… and so tourism, the food service, is also a focus.” He added that they began shifting product to Korea as early as April, stating, “we’re already in that mode, and have been for a while.”

Finally, Halstrom welcomed increased government support for export promotion through the recently passed big beautiful bill. “The support from the Foreign Ag Service has been phenomenal,” he said. “This is good news… to really further penetrate, especially in these less developed countries.” The funding will allow USMEF to expand staff and efforts in markets like Indonesia, Colombia, and parts of Africa. Looking ahead, he concluded, “we got to keep pushing… and let the beef demand speak for itself, which, at the moment is record-breaking.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Dan Halstrom: Global Beef Demand Holding Strong Despite China Trade Gap first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the recent Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with the President and CEO of US Meat Export Federation Dan Halstrom. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Dan Halstrom addressed one of the most pressing challenges facing U.S. beef exports: lack of access to China. “We continue to be challenged on the beef side, not only with a duty that’s relatively high, but more importantly, almost 400 [U.S.] beef establishments are not listed in the China system.” This exclusion from China’s CIFER system, which is required for importing, has created a major bottleneck. As Halstrom explained, “This is just a political deal of blockade we’re down 90% to China in the month of May.” The suspension began in early April, and the market has been struggling to adjust ever since.

Despite the setback, Halstrom emphasized that efforts are underway to work around the issue through diversification and flexibility. “We’re focused on moving this meat to all the most logical places, other than China, with the hopes that when China comes back, we’re that much better prepared.” He noted that the U.S. Meat Export Federation has become adept at adapting quickly: “We have the ability to move funding around between our offices we’re getting, unfortunately, very good at it.” For example, South Korea had a strong May, picking up some of the slack. “Korea had a huge month in May, up 10% I believe it was, or maybe it was 15.”

Halstrom explained why the China market is so valuable: it offers a “very complete mix” of beef demand, taking everything from navels to chuck meat to rounds. “The vast majority of the volume are these thin meats and plates for barbecue.” While other markets like Korea and Japan can absorb some of those cuts, Halstrom said, “Of course, we’d rather have China in the mix so we can maximize that value back to the producer.” Editor’s note- Beef carcass navels, also known as beef belly or navel end brisket, is a cut of beef from the ventral (belly) portion of the plate primal, located near the brisket.  It is a flavorful and fatty cut, known for its rich marbling, and is ideal for slow cooking, smoking, or curing. 

When asked about Hong Kong’s role, Halstrom clarified that it is still a separate and functioning market. “The plants are still approved to go to Hong Kong. That business is its own deal and growing, but not nearly, of course, as big as China itself.” He also highlighted China’s premium market segment: “Sam’s Club is one of the largest users of U.S. beef…their mix was about 70% U.S. grain-fed and about 30% Australian.” With the current U.S. beef shortage, he noted, “sales are going down,” and the opportunity to reclaim market share will be immediate once access is restored.

Looking back, Halstrom credited the Trump administration’s 2020 China Phase One agreement as a turning point for beef exports. “We went from roughly 200 million in sales to China to 2 billion in two years.” That success, he said, gives him hope: “Without a doubt, the Trump administration gets credit for that…so this is what gives me confidence that eventually we’ll get this worked out.” In the meantime, the industry stays nimble, prepared to reenter China “with a few advertising features” and possibly “the first shipments by air.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Dan Halstrom: China Beef Blockade Sends U.S. Exports Down 90% first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the recent Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Executive Director of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Kent Bacus. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Kent Bacus opened by explaining the trade landscape under President Trump, describing how the administration hit the ground running with an aggressive trade agenda. “On day one, President Trump came in and said, ‘Look, here’s my executive order on the America First trade policy. This is what we’re going to do.’” Bacus emphasized that tariffs were the President’s “tool of choice,” and while controversial, the cattle industry saw an opportunity. “We’ve really tried to find out, how can we direct that action in a way that’s going to benefit the cattle industry, benefit cattle producers.”

He acknowledged the complexity of the global beef trade, noting that the U.S. still faces “outstanding trade issues with Australia, with Brazil,” and emphasized the importance of holding trade partners accountable. Still, there have been victories: “What’s the first trade deal that’s announced? It’s with the UK. What’s part of that announcement? Beef.” He framed this as a direct result of persistent advocacy and a win for producers. “This is part of the bigger initiative for the President to really make our beef and our cattle producers more competitive.”

When asked about China, Bacus didn’t hold back. He celebrated past progress: “Trump one, we had a remarkable win for the beef industry.” But he was sharply critical of the follow-through. “Unfortunately, the Biden administration just didn’t hold them accountable, like we kept asking them to do. Now we need to renegotiate.” He called for stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent backsliding: “We need to have a trade partner that will actually stick to its word.”

Bacus highlighted several examples of how China has undermined U.S. beef access. “China just failed to renew the export licenses for 396 processing facilities,” effectively shutting many out of the market. He said China was also “finding other ways to back out of commitments they’d made on hormones and other technologies.” This kind of behavior, Bacus warned, undermines trust and shows why “you’ve always got to watch your back” when dealing with China.

Despite the challenges, Bacus stressed that momentum is building through broader trade efforts. “When we start to add up all of these other trade agreements… that builds a lot of leverage against the Chinese.” He said America’s re-engagement in trade policy sends a message: “We’re out there setting these standards, and we’re not going to take it.” Long-term stability is the goal, but “you got to have the right terms in place to make sure they can’t back out of the deal next time there’s somebody else in office.”

Finally, Bacus pointed to the importance of personnel. “You got to get people confirmed. You got to, they got to be appointed and confirmed.” While the process is slow, he expressed optimism about new leadership under Secretary Rollins and Ambassador Greer: “We’ve got some top talent across the board in our government, and not everybody can say that, but we can in agriculture.” As trade talks heat up, Bacus said the cattle industry is ready to work hard: “This is not an administration that believes in nights and weekends it’s not a picnic for us either we’re making up for lost time.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Kent Bacus: Building Beef Trade Leverage in a Volatile Global Market first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At the recent Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Executive Director of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Kent Bacus. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Kent Bacus emphasized the enormous impact of the “one big, beautiful tax law.” Bacus, NCBA’s Executive Director of Government Affairs, explained that this law provides certainty for producers beyond 2025, something that was previously lacking. “We don’t have to worry about expiring provisions at the end of 2025,” he said. This long-term stability allows cattle producers to confidently make decisions regarding succession planning, major capital investments, and other future-facing business moves.

Bacus credited the bill’s passage to both political leadership and the consistent pressure from cattle producers themselves. He praised President Trump and congressional leaders for the speed at which the bill moved, noting, “Tax bills always take a long time to get done the rate of speed at which they moved speaks volumes.” But he emphasized the importance of grassroots support: “Our affiliates played a very important role in helping gather that information” through a tax survey of over 1,200 producers, which was crucial in educating lawmakers about the real-world benefits of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

He detailed several of the key tax provisions that directly benefit cattle producers. “The estate tax exemption levels being bumped up to $15 million per individual, $30 million per couple, indexed for inflation” was a major victory, as was the preservation of the stepped-up basis, which Bacus called “fantastic.” Other significant wins include Section 199A, which ensures a 20% deduction for pass-through income, and Section 179, which allows deductions up to $2.5 million on equipment and infrastructure purchases. He also noted that bonus depreciation is back at 100% and permanent, giving producers powerful tools to grow and reinvest.

With the law now permanent, Bacus said the focus shifts toward implementation, working with the IRS to ensure maximum benefit for rural America. “I know that sounds kind of weird to say we’re actually going to work with the IRS… but in this case, we are.” The permanence of the law is critical, he explained: “This isn’t a four-year or five-year window… Congress is going to have to repeal these laws.” Bacus believes few politicians would want to go on record as reversing such producer-friendly policies. “No politician is going to want that,” he said, stressing how much this permanence helps mom-and-pop operations as it levels the playing field and will allow them to compete with big corporations.

Bacus concluded by calling the law a transformational win for cattle producers and rural communities. “This is a big win for our producers as this is what we can really hang our hats on.” He emphasized that the new tax structure allows for more than just stability — it enables innovation, expansion, and the preservation of generational family farms. “This is what we need, these are the kind of tools that we need, and now we’ve got them,” Bacus said, signaling confidence in a stronger, more secure future for the cattle industry.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Tax Certainty Secured: NCBA’s Kent Bacus on the One Big, Beautiful Law first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.