CattleCon 2026: Mary-Thomas Hart — Cattle, Water Management, and Environmental Policy

NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart breaks down CAFO permits, EPA enforcement, and what cattle producers need to know as rules continue to evolve.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Waters of the U.S. and cattle regulation are back in the spotlight at the CattleCon 2026.

RFD NEWS’ own Tony St. James caught up with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart to discuss how she advocates and represents the interests of U.S. cattle producers on issues such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and voluntary conservation programs.

In her interview with RFD NEWS, Hart breaks down CAFO permits, EPA enforcement, and what producers need to know as rules continue to evolve.

Related Stories: CattleCon 2026
Premieres on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET
This year at CattleCon 2026, RFD Network’s Kirbe Schnoor caught up with Donna Emick from Pneu-Dart to get her perspective on why education, safety, and accountability matter in the field.
Wed, 2/25/26 – 7:30 PM ET
Phibro’s Medicated feed additives are helping cattle strive right from the very start.
Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance discusses the importance of grain bin safety and joint efforts with Nationwide to provide farmers and first responders with access to critical, life-saving rescue tubes.
Nationwide highlights expanded insurance options for cattle operations and their company initiatives to promote grain bin safety and support women in agriculture.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Dave Kestel, a farmer from Will County and member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, joins us to share a boots-on-the-ground update on the 2025 corn harvest.
Wed, 10/15/25 – 7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
American Coalition for Ethanol’s Ron Lamberty shares the significance of California’s approval, opening up the country’s largest gasoline market to a cleaner-burning, often lower-cost fuel option.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated this week that the government will intervene to help, following China’s withdrawal from the U.S. soybean market. One trader says the industry will remain in a holding pattern until Tuesday.
University of Illinois Ag Economist Gary Schnitker says early projections indicate soybeans will be more profitable than corn in 2026.
Evan Keppy, a member of Iowa’s North Scott FFA Chapter, shares how the National FFA Organization helped shape his leadership skills.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.