Beltway Beef

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 responsible for collecting and reporting emissions to the company. While emissions calculation would likely be inaccurate at best, it would also place unreasonable and undue legal risk on individual producers. Each day, cattle producers make positive strides toward environmental stewardship, and this rule would create unnecessary red tape and legal liability that could threaten the viability of those family-owned businesses. Tune in to hear Hart discuss how NCBA is pushing back on this rule and how producers can share their opposition with decision makers in Washington, DC. To join the grassroots campaign, visit policy.ncba.

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 voices heard in Washington, D.C.

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 to ensure that these rules facilitate an environment where farmers and ranchers can continue critical on the ground progress, instead of impeding it.

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 countries around the world. Schiefelbein shares the team’s experience addressing misconceptions about the U.S. beef industry and building relationships with UK officials.

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, improving soil health, and mitigation of catastrophic wildfires. Hart shares why it is important for decision makers in Washington, D.C., to understand the commitment the U.S. cattle industry has to conservation, but why it is essential that producers have the ability to make individualized decisions that are best suited for the land that they are managing.

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 understands the importance of promoting policy, such as voluntary conservation programs and rural broadband, that allow producers to have a viable business climate, now and for generations to come.

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 makers understand how farmers and ranchers, through innovative land management and grazing efforts, have been at the forefront of conservation efforts. As the administration seeks feedback from industry, Goicoechea explains why it is critical to understand the difference between conservation and preservation, as well as respect the expertise of those who have stewarded the land and natural resources for generations.

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 successful ESA recovery stories in U.S. history, exceeding recovery goals by 300 percent since being listed under the ESA in 1974. While NCBA and its partners are frustrated with the decision, Glover committed to pursuing every option possible – regulatory and legal – to put a stop to the federal whiplash that farmers and ranchers across the country have faced for years when it comes to ESA rules.

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 experience testifying in front of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture and explains how the science-based, data-driven decisions made on farms and ranches play a critical role in meeting environmental stewardship goals.

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 built on behalf of the countries they represent. Bacus also discusses the record-setting trade export numbers that the U.S. achieved during 2021!

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 throughout his term.

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). Hart also reminds cattle producers that that their voice is the most powerful as we work with decisionmakers at EPA to achieve clear and consistent WOTUS rules. Visit ncba.org/policy to sign a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, and let your voice be heard!

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 decisionmakers to explain how cattle producers are part of the climate solution, NCBA is committed to following through on the grassroots policy set by cattle and beef producers representing every sector of the industry. Tune in to hear Woodall reflect on the year and share how NCBA plans to continue to work on behalf of producers as we move into 2022.

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 NCBA’s Tanner Beymer discuss the positive impact this will have on U.S. cattle and beef producers.

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 importance of active forest management as a key part of wildfire mitigation and shares how farmers and ranchers play a vital role in conservation efforts.

Dr. Scott Barao, of Hedgeapple Farm in Maryland, discusses how environmental stewardship is part of the DNA of farmers and ranchers across the country. He takes great pride in implementing conservation practices on his farm and uses sound science to back his management decisions. Like many cattle producers across the U.S., despite his focus on conservation, Barao faces challenges as a result of overreaching government regulations. On the heels of EPA’s recent repeal of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), Barao shares why it is critical to consider on-the-ground expertise when making regulatory decisions.