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.

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

NCBA President Buck Wehrbein expressed optimism about the current state of the industry. “This has been very enjoyable. High markets are always good, and a lot of good wins in Washington for us.” Wehrbein pointed to favorable weather in many regions and a supportive federal government and USDA as major reasons for confidence, adding, “We have a very friendly administration, a very good and friendly Secretary of Ag, so we’re pretty happy.”

Wehrbein emphasized the importance of recent legislation – the Big, Beautiful Bill,” which he said contained significant wins for cattle producers. “Frankly, the one big, beautiful bill cattle people got basically everything we asked for in that.” He highlighted key provisions like stepped-up basis and changes to the death tax, and praised the NCBA’s Washington staff: “I’m very proud of our staff in Washington, DC, that worked very hard on that and have for a long time.”

While many policy developments have been positive, Wehrbein acknowledged emerging threats, particularly the spread of the New World screw worm. “It was October, November when they first found it down there,” he said, referring to southern Mexico. “We tried to work with and encourage the Mexican government which they did not accomplish. So now it’s on the way.” Still, he remains confident: “We know how to get rid of it. That’s the good news. We have some tools now to treat cattle and so forth that we didn’t have back then.”

Wehrbein praised the administration’s approach to the issue, noting that “this administration is committed to helping us with producing the sterile flies and finding the money for that.” He also expressed appreciation for the Secretary of Agriculture: “We’ve got a Secretary of Ag who’s making good decisions and timely decisions, and we really, really appreciate her.” He reiterated NCBA’s role in supporting strong policymaking, saying, “NCBA is doing its best to help her make good, wise decisions.”

Another concern for the industry is the evolving conversation around tariffs, especially with China. “The tariff issue is an interesting one… that’s how many opinions there are on tariffs,” Wehrbein said. He reflected on past trade conditions under Trump: “He was a tariff guy then too, and it seemed like trade worked pretty well.” While acknowledging complexity, he remained pragmatic: “Cattlemen are free traders… but we also realize President Trump ran on this issue. We need to give him a chance to work on it.” Overall, Wehrbein emphasized NCBA’s mission to “help them understand what we need and what’s good for cattle producers and the food chain.”

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 President Buck Wehrbein Highlights Industry Wins and Emerging Challenges 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  CEO of Cattlefax Randy Blach about beef demand. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Randy Blach of CattleFax shared some big-picture insights, starting with a bold statement: “Best beef demand in 40 years.” He said it’s impressive that, even with per capita supply up by a pound or more and prices at record highs, “the consumer hasn’t said ‘uncle.’” Blach credited this strong demand as a major win for the beef industry in 2024. He also noted that the current consumer loyalty is a testament to beef’s value in the marketplace, even amid economic pressures.

Blach also noted that herd rebuilding is slowly starting, thanks to improved weather conditions. “We’re seeing a few more heifers retained,” he said, although he added that it’s not yet a full-blown expansion. “It’s been a tough situation we just haven’t had consistent enough moisture,” but with more confidence in the weather, producers are starting to move forward.

He highlighted the importance of ground beef, which makes up more than half of all U.S. beef consumption. “When you’ve got 53% of your total beef consumption in the form of ground beef, we have to think about that,” Blach said. He pointed out that premium grinds with better flavor are popular—even though prices can range from $4 to $12 per pound. “Consumers vote with their pocketbook, and so far, they’ve definitely said we want more.”

Blach wrapped up with a warning: higher prices could eventually hurt demand. “That’s always the hardest thing,” he said. But so far, the industry has managed supply by using imports to blend with domestic trim. “That’s been a win for our industry,” he said, especially in keeping ground beef values strong during tight supplies. He emphasized the importance of staying proactive to keep consumers engaged and protect long-term demand.

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 Randy Blach: Ground Beef Drives Record Demand in U.S. Beef Market 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  National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall about the recent passage of the big beautiful bill and the tragic Texas floods. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Woodall quickly highlighted the importance of recent legislative victories and ongoing policy discussions for the cattle industry regarding the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill. He pointed to the passage of tax extensions and the significance of the Farm Bill, noting that both developments have brought momentum to the industry. “It’s a good time to be in San Diego for the summer business meeting,” Woodall remarked, referencing the positive policy environment.

However, much of the conversation quickly turned to the devastation in Texas caused by severe flooding. Woodall shared concerns from ranchers on the ground, saying, “We’re seeing loss of equipment, loss of fences, loss of houses and barns, also loss of cattle. So yes, this is just pure devastation throughout the state of Texas, especially in that central area.” Woodall tells the ranchers affected that there will be programs to help them recover from the loss. He stressed the importance of documentation, advising producers to maintain multiple copies of their operation records: “It’s Texas today, but it’s fires in the West, it’s hurricane season coming up. Just make it a whole lot easier to get some help in recovery from the federal government.”

Woodall reassured producers that disaster assistance programs remain in place despite budget concerns. “Yeah, the programs are there and will continue to be there. And if something is falling short, we know that Congress has a history of stepping up and trying to make people whole.” Woodalls word to those effected is “Make sure you’re reaching out to us to the NCBA to the Texas southwestern cattle raisers association and your local county organization” additionally he stated “Let us know what you’re dealing with the better idea we have of the amount of devastation, the amount of losses, is going to make it a whole lot easier for us to be an advocate.”

Wrapping up, Woodall emphasized NCBA’s advocacy role in national disaster response: “We do that with every natural disaster share [the stories] with USDA, share them with the White House, share them with Congress.” He reinforced the link between agriculture and national well-being, stating, “Food security is national security.” Texas officials, including Governor Abbott, are responding across regions like the Hill Country, Concho Valley, and Central Texas, while Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Veterinary Emergency Team continue relief work. Woodall and others remain committed to helping ranchers recover in this “once in a millennium” flooding event.

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 CEO Colin Woodall Addresses Texas Flood Impact and Federal Relief Efforts first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Ethan Lane from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) to discuss the recently enacted big beautiful bill. On the Fourth of July, President Donald Trump signed the one big beautiful bill into law. This wide-reaching legislation includes the permanent extension and expansion of the Trump tax cuts from 2017. One of the most notable features is the significant increase in death tax exemptions. “The exemptions go up significantly,” noted Ron, highlighting the impact on estate and gift taxes for farmers and ranchers.

Ethan Lane of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association emphasized the importance of this law for cattle producers nationwide. “This was a huge bill for a lot of our priorities,” Lane said, referencing tax reforms and agricultural protections. Among the provisions are reimbursements for livestock losses from federally protected predators and strengthened defenses against foreign animal diseases. Lane explained, “It bolsters the three-legged stool for protecting the cattle industry from foreign animal disease,” including continued funding for the FMD Vaccine Bank to be housed at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. 

The law also delivers sweeping changes to tax policy that directly benefit producers. Lane detailed, “This bill increases the estate tax and gift tax exemption to $15 million per individual, $30 million per couple,” with annual inflation adjustments. These changes, he noted, are now permanent, eliminating uncertainty for families worried about losing ground due to reverting tax thresholds. Additional wins include expanding the Section 199A small business deduction from 20% to 23%, doubling Section 179 expensing limits, and reinstating 100% bonus depreciation for five years.

Finally, Lane praised the legislative process itself, calling it a model of proper governance. “I think it’s incredibly important and hasn’t been talked about enough that the House of Representatives effectively used regular order to pass this bill,” he said. Committees across the House held extensive markups, including a near-record 27-hour session by the Energy and Commerce Committee. “The result is a bill that has a lot of imprints of different members in it,” Lane noted, making it not only bipartisan in parts but deeply representative of diverse stakeholder interests across agriculture.

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 One Big Beautiful Law Delivers Many of the Cattle Industry Priorities for 2025  first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Dr. Clint Rusk, who shared that there has long been interest in developing a ranch management program at Texas Tech. “The ranchers in west Texas came to town and asked the Dean of Ag for some help. They suggested that maybe it would be good if Texas Tech had a ranch management program.” This interest, coupled with successful models like the one at Texas Christian University that began in 1956 and Texas A&M Kingsville’s program from the early 2000s, inspired Tech to create its own version tailored for current and aspiring ranch managers.

Dr. Rusk has been involved in the beef industry for multiple years- serving as Department Head for Animal Sciences at Oklahoma State University and as a Breed Executive for the American International Charolais Association be fore landing in Lubbock.

Dr. Rusk explained that the development of the program was guided by a 15-member advisory committee made up of experienced ranchers, Donnell Brown with the R.A Brown ranch, and Joe Leathers with the 6666 ranch, to name a couple. “They sat down with us and we just talked through how we should build this program.” The consensus was to create a two-year master’s program consisting of two semesters of coursework and two six-month-long ranch internships. This structure was designed to blend academic learning with practical experience.

Enrollment in the program has grown quickly, showing strong interest from students across the country. “We started with five students last fall… this fall we’ll have 17 graduate students.” Dr. Rusk noted the diversity of applicants, stating, “We have students from as far away as Florida… Oklahoma State University… Laramie, Wyoming, from the University of Wyoming, and… New Mexico.” He emphasized the goal of eventually graduating around 20 students a year.

According to Dr. Rusk, the value of the program lies not just in the degree itself, but in the dedication it reflects. “I don’t know if it’s as much about the master’s degree itself as the fact that these students were willing to commit themselves to a program.” He drew a contrast with earlier generations, saying, “My dad didn’t go to college… but they didn’t have the training that our students are having today.” The program addresses the increasing complexity and technological demands of modern ranching.

Finally, Dr. Rusk stressed the need for well-trained ranch managers in today’s agricultural labor market. “Help is hard to find in ag today… we have a shortage of trained labor source, especially in the manager category.” For those interested in learning more, he said, “Most of them call me… the word of mouth is really how we’ve gotten the students.” With a promising start, the Texas Tech Ranch Management Program is aiming to meet a growing demand in the ranching 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 Raising Up a New Generation of Ranchers- Texas Tech Ranch Management Program With Clint Rusk first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Ron Hays Beef Buzzes With Agriculture Economist Glynn Tonsor

In our latest Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Dr. Glynn Tonsor who shared that “meat is having a moment,” a phrase that would echo throughout their discussion. Tonsor emphasized that this resurgence is being driven by shifting consumer habits and dietary interests. He explained that in 2025, “we’re actually seeing a decline in the prevalence of vegan vegetarian diets,” and instead, there’s “more interest in meat protein in general.” The broader public discussion around protein, health, and fitness has helped shine a positive spotlight on meat.

Dr. Tonsor attributed much of the renewed interest in meat to younger, more active consumers: “Physical fitness… demands more protein, and meat is benefiting from that.” This trend is showing up in pop culture too, with Tonsor observing, “Those of us that watch probably too much TV see protein referenced in commercials more than we did a few years ago.” He also cited growing enthusiasm at industry events like the World Pork Expo, where “hog prices are up,” and a new campaign is underway with the message: “What pork can do for you.”

Still, Tonsor urged caution amid the excitement, pointing to serious global and domestic risks: “The conflicting force is the macroeconomic uncertainty.” He listed challenges including tariffs, domestic unemployment and inflation rates, and elevated risk out of the Middle East. While meat demand is strong, he reminded listeners that “a necessary and sufficient condition includes being able to pay for it.” Economic pressure on consumers could quickly shift the landscape.

This connection between consumer wallets and ranch economics is key: “2024 cattle prices would’ve been at least 10% lower… if we did not have consumer demand growth.” Tonsor stressed that producers need to remain alert: “We can’t take that for granted.” Consumer demand, while strong now, is a dynamic force, and economic fluctuations can ripple across the livestock industry quickly.

Finally, Tonsor emphasized the importance of distinguishing between consumption volume and consumer spending: “The average American consumes well over 20 pounds of meat, more today than they did 20 years ago,” largely driven by chicken. But he made clear that beef leads in value: “The amount being paid for those pounds is much higher,” which results in “more dollars in the industry” and higher cattle prices. His bottom line was clear: “All three meats are ‘in’… the public wants meat protein.”

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 Meat Is Having A Moment- Glynn Tonsor Talks About Rising Meat Demand first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In Our latest Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays features comments from NCBA Past President Kevin Kester who stood right behind President Donald Trump this past Friday as the President was pushing hard for the Senate to step up and pass the One Big Beautiful Bill that has already cleared the House. (UPDATE- the Senate has voted 51 -49 to debate the OBBB, with a final vote possible on Monday)

Kester called that moment on Friday “almost Deja Vu” as he recalls being in a similar spot in 2017 during the first Trump Administration when the President was pushing for passage of what has become known as the Trump Tax Cuts.

Kester calls the OBBB a better version of the Trump Tax Cuts- especially when it comes to the so called Death Tax. Congress is proposing a fifteen million dollar exemption for an individual and a thirty million dollar exemption for a couple- made permanent and to be indexed for inflation.

Kester also praises Congress for improvements in Section 179 Expense Deductions which he calls “a big deal for us” and this measure keeps the bonus depreciation intact which is also a big deal. All of these could expire at the end of calendar year 2025 unless Congress completes work on this reconciliation bill.

Kevin Kester attended due to his personal experience with the Death Tax as a representative for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

“It was an incredible honor to stand with President Trump and echo his message that America’s family farmers and ranchers need tax relief now,” said Kester. “When I was hit with the Death Tax 30 years ago, I couldn’t hire new employees, invest in equipment, or make improvements to the ranch. My family and I had to stretch every dollar and sacrifice basic purchases so that we could pay off that tax bill. To protect our food security and national security, we need to make sure no other farming family experiences that same burden, which is why Congress must pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and deliver lasting tax relief.”

Kester raises cattle with his wife, children, and grandchildren. His grandchildren are the 7th generation of his family involved in agriculture. Over 30 years ago, he inherited the ranch from his grandfather and faced a $2 million Death Tax from the IRS. Today, land values near the Kester ranch have soared as billionaires and non-ag companies buy up thousands of acres, driving up costs for working farmers while removing productive land from agriculture—a double hit to those hardworking Americans producing our nation’s food. These are not just challenges for the Kester family, they’re a growing threat to farmers and ranchers across the country.

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 Past NCBA President Kevin Kester All In on Big Beautiful Bill and It’s Tax Provisions for Ranchers first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.