WASHINGTON (April 27, 2022) – Today, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Don Schiefelbein, a Minnesota cattle producer, testified before the House Agriculture Committee in a hearing on issues in the cattle markets. Schiefelbein urged House members to support key policies with broad, unified support across the entire cattle industry including a cattle contract library, Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) reauthorization, and investments in small regional processing capacity expansion.
“The only people who know exactly how cattle producers should navigate these uncertain times are the individuals who work around the clock, day in and day out, to raise the safest and highest quality beef in the world—in other words: cattle producers,” said Schiefelbein.
Schiefelbein’s testimony was rooted in the policies adopted by NCBA through its century-old grassroots policymaking process.
Instead of focusing on controversial matters, NCBA has encouraged Congress to support policies with wide industry backing. “Broadly supported proposals have seen tremendous legislative success in this chamber recently,” said Schiefelbein. “However, repeatedly belaboring the same divisive issues has detracted from that collaborative work to the benefit of no one. It is time to move on and focus on areas where agreement can be reached.”
NCBA stands ready to work with policymakers to develop solutions that strength the cattle markets and benefit producers in every sector and region of the country.
Background
NCBA is advocating for numerous policies with unified industry backing that address critical issues in the cattle markets.
Programs like the Cattle Contract Library and LMR provide critical market information to cattle farmers and ranchers, helping them make more informed business decisions.
To expand processing capacity and return leverage to the side of the producer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has pledged $1 billion of investments in launching and expanding small to medium-sized processing plants. NCBA is working with USDA to target those investments in the most effective way. Previously, NCBA secured introduction of the Butcher Block Act to establish loan and grant programs for new processing facilities.
NCBA is also the leading voice for oversight of the meatpacking sector and has called for the swift competition of a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into possible anticompetitive practices by the big meatpackers.
NCBA is the oldest and largest national trade association representing U.S. cattle and beef producers. Through a network of forty-four state affiliate organizations, NCBA represents 175,000 cattle farmers and ranchers in addition to over 26,000 direct members.