WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — Cattle producers from across the country recently traveled to Washington for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Legislative Conference as ranchers continue navigating a wide range of industry issues.
Producers say concerns surrounding regulations, market conditions and natural disasters are continuing to impact cattle operations across the country.
The three-day conference included policy briefings from NCBA’s Washington staff before producers headed to Capitol Hill to meet directly with lawmakers.
Attendees say those conversations help lawmakers better understand how decisions made in Washington impact cattle producers and rural communities back home.
Related Stories
Texas Lawmakers Issue Disaster Declaration as New World Screwworm Threat Moves Closer to U.S. Border
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller discusses the state’s latest efforts to prevent the New World screwworm from reaching Texas.
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
The biggest development of 2025 in agricultural law and taxation was the signing into law on July 4 of the Trump Administration’s landmark legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA)
House Agriculture Committee Chairman “GT” Thompson is pushing a “Farm Bill 2.0.”
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.
The federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.