Friday January 24 Ag News

Council Leaders, Partner Organizations Engage Stakeholders In India

Last week, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) held its annual joint officers’ mission in India in conjunction with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) to highlight the organizations’ engagement in the country. India recently became a net coarse grain importer, and the Council is working to position U.S. products as the preferred choice for Indian buyers of coarse grains and distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

Organization leaders participating in the program were USGC Chairwoman Verity Ulibarri; USGC Vice Chairman Mark Wilson; USGC Secretary-Treasurer Jay Reiners (from Nebraska); USGC Past Chairman Brent Boydston; USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand; USCP Chairman Ethan Miller; NSP Chairwoman Amy France; USCP CEO Tim Lust; USCP Board Member David Schemm; and USCP Director of Communications Clint White.

Council staff based in its New Delhi office, including USGC Regional Director for South Asia Reece Cannady; USGC Marketing Specialist Nayantara Pande; USGC Regional Consultant Amit Sachdev; and USGC Senior Ethanol Advisor Sonjoy Mohanty were also on hand to support and facilitate the team’s goals during the mission.

“Promotional efforts from the Council and the sorghum sector have generated significant interest in U.S. sorghum from Indian poultry producers who are paying record prices for coarse grains and are looking for affordable, nutritious options to sustain their operations and feed nearly one and a half billion people,” Cannady said. “This joint officers’ mission is well-timed to show Indian importers and end-users that the U.S. agricultural industry is committed to a fruitful trade partnership with India.”

The group held meetings with poultry industry stakeholders, including a roundtable with the Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers’ Association (CLFMA of India), and visited a feed mill and hatchery to discuss how U.S. feed grains can reduce input costs while simultaneously improving livestock health and yields.

While in New Delhi, the delegation also met with staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA’s FAS) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to align on strategies to support the Indian market and organize future opportunities for collaboration.

In addition to meetings and facility tours focused on feed grains, the team met with oil and gas refiners and toured an ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) research facility to see how biofuels are integrated into the Indian value chain.

“India has taken concrete steps to introduce a SAF mandate, beginning in 2027 and expanding gradually over the coming years, and the U.S. agricultural industry is ready to meet Indian demand for biofuels,” LeGrand said. “Additionally, U.S. coarse grain growers can provide a low-carbon input for Indian ethanol producers, offering comprehensive solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize air travel in the world’s third-largest aviation market.”



One Thousand Custom Harvesters to Gather in Des Moines
 
U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI) will host their Annual Convention in Des Moines, Iowa from January 30 - February 1, 2025 and will gather 1,000 Custom Harvester members.
 
Forage and Grain custom harvesters are contracted by farmers to harvest crops, saving farmers time and investments in equipment and upkeep. USCHI has members from 29 states and four Canadian provinces that travel North America harvesting the food that feeds the world.
 
The Iowa Events Center will host the USCHI Annual Convention and will feature a 150,000 square foot tradeshow showcasing products from sponsors such as Case IH, CLAAS of America, John Deere, Krone North America, JCB North America, INSPRO – Marsh McLennan Agency, and many more to demonstrate the newest equipment, services, and technology. The Annual Convention will also feature combine and forage learning clinics, state meetings, speaker sessions, women’s and kids’ events, a children’s safety day, and musical entertainment from dueling pianos team, Deuces Wild. The members will elect a new vice president and two new board members to the organization’s board of directors. Vice president candidates are Jon Orr and Raph Jolliffe and board candidates include Ryan Graham, Aubree Thouvenel, Brian Zimmerman, and Rodney Wolgmuth. Candidate interviews can be found at Custom Harvest Hype, USCHI’s podcast or viewed on USCHI’s YouTube Channel.



Iowa Ag Expo Returns to Des Moines, IA for 150th Year

The Iowa Ag Expo will return to the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, IA on February 4-6, 2025 for its 104th year. With 92 new exhibitors this year and the addition of more booths in the Convention Center Ballroom Level, the Iowa Ag Expo continues to grow and expand.

Spanning 7.25 acres, the Iowa Ag Expo is the third largest indoor ag show in the United States, following only the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, and the Nebraska Ag Expo in Lincoln, NE. More than 705 exhibitors will travel from 28 states and 5 Canadian provinces to display their latest products and services in front of Iowa producers.

To view the full Iowa Ag Expo program and list of exhibitors, visit our website at iowaagexpo.com.

Attendees can skip the line, and pay for tickets in advance, and save $5 on admission by registering online. Registration information like the number of acres farmed, type(s) of livestock raised, and type(s) of crops grown is used to understand attendee demographics and to notify you for next year’s dates.

Regular admission is $10 at the door or $5 with advance registration. Each ticket is valid for all three days of the Iowa Ag Expo. Children under 14 years old as well as students with a valid student ID receive free admission. Tickets purchased in advance are non-refundable.

The Iowa Ag Expo will kick off at 9:00am on Tuesday, February 4. Hours are 9:00am-4:00pm Tuesday and Wednesday and 9:00am-3:00pm Thursday. The Iowa Events Center is located at 730 3rd Street in Des Moines, IA. Paid parking is available north of the Iowa Events Center with entrances off 3rd Street, 5th Avenue, and Crocker Street. Free parking and shuttle transportation are available at Principal Park. ADA-accessible parking is available by entering the lot south of Crocker Street, next to the Community Choice Convention Center. Overnight visitors are recommended to book their stay with our supporting hotels (visit iowaagexpo.com/lodging).

What else is new and noteworthy this year?
    Ag Innovation Hubs: Don’t miss the expanding Innovation Hubs located on the Ballroom level of the Convention Center and the lower level of Wells Fargo Arena. Both Hubs showcase the latest and most revolutionary ag technology in the industry. The Iowa Ag Expo continues to support advancing agricultural innovation and empowering ag producers with the best state-of-the-art solutions.
    Ag Talks: Attendees will also be able to dive deeper into specific topics of interest with a series of 28 educational sessions called Ag Talks. The speaker sessions will take place in Rooms 301 and 311 in the Convention Center. Ag Talks presentations are included with admission to the Iowa Ag Expo.  
    Career Exploration Event: The Iowa Ag Expo will host its fourth annual Career Exploration Event for middle and high school students during the show. Approximately 470+ students will attend the event to learn about career opportunities available to them in the agriculture industry.

The Iowa Ag Expo began in 1910 when it was known as the Iowa Power Farming Show. In 2020, the show was renamed to better reflect the evolution of agriculture and the ag show space. At one time, only ag equipment companies were allowed to exhibit at the Iowa Ag Expo. Now, the show includes the expansion of all ag-related products. Owned and managed by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA), the Iowa Ag Expo’s name change also reflects the show’s commitment to providing the best attendee and exhibitor experience possible.

Stay up to date with the latest Iowa Ag Expo news and events on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website, IowaAgExpo.com.



Glen R. Smith named chairman of FCSIC board of directors

Glen R. Smith of Iowa was elected this week as chairman of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation board of directors. He succeeds Jeffery Hall, who served as chairman of the FCSIC board of directors from November 2016 until he was designated board chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) on Jan. 20, 2025.

“I would like to thank the FCSIC board for electing me chair,” said Chairman Smith. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead FCSIC because I recognize and value the role it plays in maintaining investor confidence in the Farm Credit System (FCS or System). This confidence is crucial for the System to have a dependable source of funds to lend to agriculture and rural America. I also want to thank Board Member Jeff Hall for his exemplary leadership of the FCSIC board of directors for the past eight years. I look forward to working with him and Board Member Vincent Logan as we continue to fulfill FCSIC’s mission.”

The Insurance Corporation is an independent U.S. government-controlled corporation responsible for ensuring the repayment of principal and interest on certain Farm Credit System debt obligations issued to investors. As of Sept. 30, 2024, the FCSIC insurance fund held $7.8 billion in total assets, insuring $434.8 billion in outstanding FCS debt. The FCS includes a nationwide network of borrower-owned cooperative lending institutions and affiliated service entities that have a leading role in providing financing to agriculture and rural America. The Insurance Corporation is managed by a three-member board of directors consisting of individuals who serve concurrently as members of the FCA board. FCA is the regulator of the FCS.

Chairman Smith has served as a member of the FCA board, as well as a member of the FCSIC board of directors, since December 2017, when President Donald J. Trump appointed him to the FCA board. President Trump designated him chairman of the board and CEO of FCA in 2019, and he served in that capacity through most of 2022. In his role on the FCA board, Mr. Smith has been particularly interested in encouraging the advancement of System programs for young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers, in addition to promoting the safety and soundness of System institutions. These board efforts culminated in regulatory actions that were entered into the Federal Register in February 2024.

Chairman Smith is a native of Atlantic, Iowa, where he was raised on a diversified crop and livestock farm. His farm experience started at a very early age, after his father was involved in a disabling farm accident. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business. In 1982 Chairman Smith and his wife, Fauzan, moved back to his hometown and started their family agricultural operation as “beginning farmers.” In that same year, he established a locally based land service company. Today, their family farm, Smith Generation Farms Inc., has grown to encompass about 2,000 owned acres devoted to corn, soybeans, and hay. The company, Smith Land Service, specializes in farm management, land appraisal, and farmland brokerage, serving landowners in about 30 Iowa counties.



Winners announced in Iowa Farm Bureau's 'Grow Your Future' Award

Tanner and Lakaya Tenley of Tenley Farms near Mechanicsville have been named Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s “Grow Your Future” Award first-place winners. The Tenleys will take home $10,000 to expand their direct-to-consumer beef, pork and milk business.

The Grow Your Future competition helps young farmers, ages 18-35, amplify their ag-related niche market, unique service or specialty business. The competition began with entrepreneurs submitting video applications in August 2024, followed by public voting during Iowa Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in December to narrow the contestant pool. Placings were announced during Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Conference on Jan. 18 after the three finalists competed in a live pitch-off.

The Tenleys raise Angus cattle and Duroc pigs. Both Tanner and Lakaya grew up on dairy farms and saw an opportunity to add fresh milk products to their customer offerings to “complete the farm-to-table" experience, says Lakaya. Using their award money, the Tenleys will launch a farm store to give people the opportunity to visit a local farm and reduce time on the road for deliveries.

In second place, Taylor and Stephanie Getting of Calyx Creek and Lavender Lodgings in Johnson County near Oxford received $5,000 to expand their lavender fields and add equipment to produce lavender-based products like lotions, soaps and syrups.

Michael and Maria Gallagher of Holly View Acres in Woodbury County near Hornick earned third place and a $2,500 prize, which they will use to enhance their pumpkin patch and corn maze with additional kids' activities.

"The spirit of the young farmer is rooted in resilience, innovation and a willingness to embrace new opportunities,” says Amanda Van Steenwyk, Iowa Farm Bureau’s farm business development manager. “These farmers are not just growing crops or raising livestock; they are strengthening their rural communities, and Iowa Farm Bureau sees that as a win-win.”



Iowa Beef Welcomes New Director of Nutrition & Health

The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) is excited to welcome Erin Good of Waukee as our new Director of Nutrition & Health. In this role, Erin will lead IBIC’s efforts in beef nutrition programs, collaborating with health organizations, healthcare professionals retail promotion partners and local schools to support both national and state checkoff programs in Iowa.

 “I’m excited to join the Iowa Beef Industry Council and bring my passion for health and nutrition to the table,” Erin shared. “I look forward to bridging the gap between consumers, healthcare professionals, educators, and the farming community, showcasing how beef fits into a balanced lifestyle – while bringing a new perspective from outside the farming world.”

Originally from New Jersey, Erin and her family moved to Iowa after the floods of 1993 and settled in Waukee, where her interest in dietetics began. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and is both a registered and licensed dietitian. Erin brings over 12 years of experience as a Corporate Retail Dietitian at Hy-Vee, where she gained expertise in live television and radio, partnerships with health influencers, and developing health and nutrition marketing materials.

Outside of work, Erin is an avid yogi, having completed over 1,200 classes at Power Life Yoga. She also enjoys outdoor biking, traveling to warm destinations with her boyfriend, and cheering on the Cyclones.

“We are excited for Erin to join our incredible team with her passion and experience for health and nutrition,” said Mike Anderson, IBIC Executive Director. “This role is critical in educating both producers and consumers with factual, science-based information about how beef contributes to a healthy diet.”

Erin can be reached via email at erin@iabeef.org.



Commercial Red Meat Production Down Slightly from Last December

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.54 billion pounds in December, down slightly from the 4.55 billion pounds produced in December 2023.

Beef production, at 2.20 billion pounds, was slightly above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.54 million head, down 2 percent from December 2023. The average live weight was up 30 pounds from the previous year, at 1,431 pounds.

Veal production totaled 3.1 million pounds, 20 percent below December a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 16,100 head, down 28 percent from December 2023. The average live weight was up 36 pounds from last year, at 329 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.33 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.7 million head, down 1 percent from December 2023. The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 291 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 12.0 million pounds, was up 12 percent from December 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 201,500 head, 9 percent above last year. The average live weight was 117 pounds, up 2 pounds from December a year ago.

by State            (million lbs.  -  % Dec '23)
Nebraska ........:     663.9            101       
Iowa ..............:     743.6             95       
Kansas ...........:      471.4             98       

January to December 2024 commercial red meat production was 55.0 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023. Accumulated beef production was up slightly from last year, veal was down 16 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 2 percent.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 1/17/2025

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending January 17, ethanol production inched up 0.4% to 1.10 million b/d, equivalent to 46.16 million gallons daily. Output was 34.4% higher than the same week last year and 13.8% above the five-year average for the week. Yet, the four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.2% to 1.10 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.94 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks swung 3.5% to a 40-week high of 25.9 million barrels. Stocks were 0.2% more than the same week last year and 5.0% above the five-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the Rocky Mountains (PADD 4) and West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, declined 2.9% to 8.09 million b/d (124.30 bg annualized). Demand was 2.6% more than a year ago but 1.8% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol ticked down 0.1% to 828,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.73 bg annualized. Still, net inputs were 3.8% more than year-ago levels and 1.4% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports increased 35.2% to an estimated 169,000 b/d (7.1 million gallons/ day). It has been more than a year since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.



Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig Announce Full Committee Membership for the 119th Congress

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) issued the following statement after organizing the committee for the 119th Congress:

"Today, the House Agriculture Committee officially organized for the 119th Congress, and is now ready to tackle the many challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. From market volatility to regulatory burdens, our shared priorities include ensuring a strong and prosperous future for American agriculture and the communities they feed. Together, we look forward to bringing about meaningful policy, including a five-year farm bill.”

Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
Republican Members Include:
Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08), Chairman
Rep. David Rouzer (NC-07), Vice Chair
Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-01)
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)
Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12)
Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-AL)
Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15)
Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01)
Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01)
Rep. John Rose (TN-06)
Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03)
Rep. Mark Harris (NC-08)
Rep. Dave Taylor (OH-02)
Democratic Members Include:
Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03), Ranking Member
Rep. David Scott (GA-13)
Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11)
Rep. Don Davis (NC-01)
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
Rep. Eric Sorensen (IL-17)
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08)

Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture
Republican Members Include:
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Chairman
Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01), Vice Chair
Rep. David Rouzer (NC-07)
Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04)
Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04)
Rep. Tony Wied (WI-08)
Democratic Members Include:
Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Ranking Member
Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21)
Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)
Rep. Adam Gray (CA-13)
Rep. Josh Riley (NY-19)

Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
Republican Members Include:
Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03), Chairman
Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04), Vice Chair
Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02)
Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04)
Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15)
Rep. John Rose (TN-06)
Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13)
Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04)
Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08)
Rep. Mark Messmer (IN-08)
Democratic Members Include:
Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Ranking Member
Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12)
Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03)
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
Rep. Eric Sorensen (IL-17)
Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)
Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA-07)
Rep. John Mannion (NY-22)
Rep. April McClain Delaney (MD-06)

Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture
Republican Members Include:
Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01), Chairman
Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Vice Chair
Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03)
Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08)
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (TN-04)
Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04)
Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01)
Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15)
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03)
Rep. Tony Wied (WI-08)
Rep. Mark Harris (NC-08)
Democratic Members Include:
Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Ranking Member
Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02)
Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12)
Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11)
Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02)
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)
Rep. Shomari Figures (AL-02)

Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
Republican Members Include:
Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01), Chairman
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Vice Chair
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (TN-04)
Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02)
Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04)
Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04)
Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15)
Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01)
Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01)
Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13)
Rep. Tony Wied (WI-08)
Rep. Mark Messmer (IN-08)
Rep. Mark Harris (NC-08)
Democratic Members Include:
Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Ranking Member
Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05)
Rep. Don Davis (NC-01)
Rep. Adam Gray (CA-13)
Rep. Josh Riley (NY-19)

Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development
Republican Members Include:
Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Chair
Rep. John Rose (TN-06), Vice Chair
Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03)
Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08)
Rep. David Rouzer (NC-07)
Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01)
Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03)
Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01)
Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03)
Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08)
Rep. Mark Messmer (IN-08)
Rep. Dave Taylor (OH-02)
Democratic Members Include:
Rep. Don Davis (NC-01), Ranking Member
Rep. David Scott (GA-13)
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)
Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13)
Rep. Adam Gray (CA-13)
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08)
Rep. Shomari Figures (AL-02)
Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA-07)
Rep. John Mannion (NY-22)
Rep. April McClain Delaney (MD-06)

NOTE: Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Craig will serve as ex officio Members of each subcommittee.



Senate Confirmation Hearings: Rollins
ASA Newsletter

Trump’s USDA secretary nominee, Brooke Rollins, sat before the Senate Agriculture Committee this morning for her confirmation hearing.

In her opening statement, Rollins outlined her immediate top priorities for USDA, including:
    Ensuring disaster and economic aid authorized by Congress in December is allocated “quickly and efficiently.”
    Immediate action to contain and eradicate animal disease outbreaks, including avian influenza and screwworm detections.
    Working with the House and Senate Agriculture committees to pass a farm bill.

During the hearing, Rollins also said she is looking to reform and modernize the H2A labor program.

Several committee members shared that their farmer constituents are concerned about tariffs following their use in the previous Trump administration. Rollins responded that USDA would work to foster additional foreign market opportunities and committed to working with both sides of the aisle to ensure farmers’ concerns are addressed.

ASA urges the swift confirmation of Rollins as the next USDA Secretary and looks forward to working with her on priorities ranging from farm bill to biotechnology, biofuels support to agricultural trade, among other issues that impact soy growers and agriculture at large.



NMPF Applauds Bipartisan Effort to Expand Students' Access to Whole Milk
President & CEO Gregg Doud

“NMPF commends Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-PA, and Kim Schrier, D-WA, and Senators Roger Marshall, R-KS, Peter Welch, D-VT, Dave McCormick, R-PA, and John Fetterman, D-PA, for their leadership in boosting students’ access to crucial nutrition with their Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Just last month, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reaffirmed that most Americans under-consume nutrient-dense dairy.  This much-needed bill lets schools offer students the healthful milk options that they are most likely to drink by permitting the serving of nutritious reduced fat and whole milk varieties, critically addressing kids’ under-consumption of milk’s essential nutrients.

“NMPF is ready to work with the bill's bipartisan sponsors to move this commonsense, widely supported solution across the finish line this year.”



NCBA and PLC Secure House Passage of Key Land Management Bills

Thursday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) hailed the House passage of two significant land management bills that are strongly supported by America’s livestock producers: the ACRES Act and the Fix Our Forests Act.

“Devastating wildfires throughout the West have shown that the federal government needs to step up their protection of western landscapes and that starts by supporting the farmers and ranchers on the ground whose hard works helps reduce wildfire risk,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “NCBA has worked hard to secure approval of these bills and their passage in the U.S. House is a testament to this association’s strong representation of cattle producers in Washington, D.C.”

Together, these bills increase the West’s resiliency against wildfires and strengthen accountability for federal agencies. The ACRES Act, introduced by Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), requires the Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior to accurately report their activity on reducing hazardous wildfire fuels. Recent investigations have shown that the U.S. Forest Service overcounted the number of acres where they reduced wildfire fuels, leading to incorrect information. The Fix Our Forests Act, introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), would support livestock grazing as a valuable tool for reducing wildfire risk, reduce frivolous lawsuits, and support other measures to protect the West from catastrophic wildfires.

“Scientific research has continuously showed that grazing prevents wildfires,” said PLC President Tim Canterbury, a Colorado rancher. “For us in the West, the threat of wildfires is a very real and terrifying risk. I am grateful that Congress is working on solutions that support livestock grazing and help us manage our Western lands to remove fuels and reduce fire risk.”

Both bills passed the U.S. House of Representatives in bipartisan votes this week. The legislation will now go to the U.S. Senate for approval. NCBA and PLC strongly urge Senators to vote in favor of this legislation so President Trump can swiftly sign it into law before the 2025 wildfire season.



NCBA Seeks Interns for Summer 2025

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced applications for two internship opportunities available summer 2025, a public policy internship based in Washington, D.C. and a meetings and events internship based in Centennial, Colorado.
 
“Our interns perform critical work, and they have the opportunity to learn about how NCBA is at the forefront of defending America’s cattle producers and their legacy,” said NCBA President-Elect Buck Wehrbein. “If you want to advocate for farmers and ranchers in Washington or support the critical events that help us advance the beef industry, I encourage you to apply for internships at NCBA.”
 
The public policy internship is held in conjunction with the Public Lands Council (PLC) and interns will have the opportunity to work on government advocacy projects that advance NCBA’s and PLC’s policy priorities. Interns will participate in research, monitor federal regulations and congressional activity, and participate in meetings with policy stakeholders.
 
The meetings and events internship will give students an opportunity to learn about managing public events including logistics, marketing, venue coordination, and budgeting. Meetings and events interns will assist in the planning of NCBA’s annual Summer Business Meeting and CattleCon.
 
Both internships will run from May 19, 2025, through August 15, 2025. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, be junior or senior undergraduate students or graduate students, and be available for the duration of the internship. For more information and to complete an application, please visit ncba.org.