The D.C. Update session during CattleCon painted 2025 as a year of historic wins paired with intensifying challenges — political, regulatory and biological.
Ethan Lane, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) senior vice president of government affairs, summarizes the momentous year in D.C. for the beef industry: “In some respects, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I think everyone in this room can sympathize with that sentiment.”
2025 Policy Wins: Taxes, Farm Bill and Nutrition
The NCBA policy team kicked off CattleCon 2026 with a clear message: 2025 delivered a string of generational policy victories.
On tax and business policy, NCBA helped secure major relief aimed at keeping ranches in the family.
“Members of NCBA have made it clear for years they need relief from the death tax to deal with escalating land values, equipment costs and interest rates,” Lane says.
The legislative package — referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill” — contained nearly everything the industry requested regarding taxes and farm policy.
“The magnitude of the wins in that bill was historic — 90+% percent of the Farm Bill, probably 99% of what we were looking for, was put to bed by the Fourth of July,” Lane says.
However, the best of times quickly faced a challenge when the administration took a keen interest in rising beef prices. Lane notes when the industry was told it was “doing too good a job,” NCBA and beef producers fired back.
“It was a reminder of the power and respect this industry commands when we present a united front,” he says.
Sigrid Johannes, NCBA senior director of government affairs, highlights the bill includes the extremely crucial three-legged stool for animal health — National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) grants, diagnostic lab capacity and the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine bank — is fully funded.
Perhaps the most visible win came in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
“We flipped the pyramid, and beef is pretty damn prominent up there,” Johannes summarizes.
She explains the daily protein intake has increased 50% to 100%, depending on the age group.
“There are a lot of Americans who are falling into an age bracket and caloric-need bracket where they are being told that it is healthy and it supports a healthy, successful lifestyle to double your protein intake. And that’s a really significant one for us.”
The guidelines also stopped treating fat as a simple villain and separated red meat from processed meats, backing a “real food” message that supports beef.
2026 Challenges: Fake Meat and Social Media Disinformation
Despite the celebrations, the D.C. team warns of a shifting landscape and the challenging environment in D.C.
On the issue of cell-cultured “fake meat,” the 2026 focus is on clear labeling and safety oversight. Johannes clarifies NCBA isn’t looking to ban alternatives, but rather to stop deceptive terms like “slaughter-free beef” or “cruelty-free meat.”
Digital battleground. Lane stresses social‑media‑driven disinformation — often funded by groups like Farm Action — is a constant hurdle. To demonstrate how easily adversaries can target policymakers, NCBA conducted a geofencing experiment at CattleCon.
“We geofenced this convention center, and you’re going to get bombarded on your social media with this video all week,” Lane reveals. “It didn’t cost us a nickel. Imagine how easy it is for our adversaries to geofence Capitol Hill and target decision-makers [with messages] that say whatever they want.”
At the same time, Lane reminds producers why NCBA remains confident when working in D.C.: “You have armed us with the truth. This job is easy because we’re right. This job is easy because the science, the facts back up what we do in this industry. But boy, do we have a fight on our hands in the media in order to defend this industry and keep us moving in the right direction.”
The Long Game: Disease and Trade
The update also spotlighted the threat of vector‑borne diseases.
“I think the biggest challenge for the beef cattle industry in the next 10 years will be vector-borne diseases,” says Dr. Kathy Simmons, NCBA chief veterinarian. “Diseases that are spread by ticks, flies and midges.”
The Asian longhorned tick (ALHT) poses a serious threat to cattle health. ALHTs carry Theileria, which is a protozoan parasite that infects red and white blood cells. It can lead to anemia and, in some cases, death.
The team also gave an update on New World screwworm and its threat to U.S. cattle production. NCBA is pushing for increasing sterile insect capacity, new treatments, research funding and realistic USDA response plans.
On the trade front, Kent Bacus, NCBA executive director of government affairs, describes the current environment as tariff-heavy and unpredictable.
“The president sees tariffs as a tool,” Bacus explains. “We continue to encourage the administration to view tariffs only as a tool and not a final destination.”
On the regulatory and legal front, Lane acknowledges that National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and wolves remain long‑term fights.
NCBA’s 2026 Priorities
Released on Monday, NCBA’s 2026 policy priorities include:
- Continue to press the administration to roll back harmful regulations to keep working lands working.
- Enhance and strengthen U.S. mitigation measures against the incursion of New World screwworm.
- Protect the U.S. cattle herd from foreign animal diseases and pests through heightened awareness and preparedness actions.
- Expand market access for U.S. beef exports and hold trade partners accountable to ensure equivalent animal health and food safety standards for imported beef.
- Promote science-based nutrition policies and sound, fact-based information for consumers.
- Push for further hours-of-service flexibility, increased truck weights and continue delaying ELD requirements for livestock haulers.
- Safeguard the U.S cattle and beef supply chain by working with the administration to ensure there is a strong workforce to limit processing disruptions for producers.
