Nebraska cattle producer and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Buck Wehrbein testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, outlining critical policy priorities for the American cattle industry.
Wehrbein highlighted the industry’s strong market conditions and steady consumer demand for beef, expressing optimism about the future. However, he emphasized that challenges remain and urged Congress to recognize that food security is national security. He called on lawmakers to pass a Farm Bill, eliminate the Death Tax, protect beef in federal dietary guidelines, curb excessive regulations, ensure fair trade practices, address the threat of New World screwworm, and uphold the Beef Checkoff program.
During his testimony, Wehrbein stressed the importance of a Farm Bill that supports animal health, voluntary conservation, and risk management. He also defended the Beef Checkoff program, which drives consumer education, market research, and beef demand, warning that it faces renewed opposition from activist groups.
Another key concern was the potential spread of New World screwworm into the U.S. For more than six decades, the country has been free of this destructive pest, but its presence in Mexico poses a risk. Wehrbein urged Congress to invest in sterile fly production facilities to prevent an outbreak.
Additional priorities included tax reform, particularly eliminating the Death Tax, ensuring beef remains a key component of federal dietary guidelines, protecting public lands ranching, and reducing regulatory burdens on cattle producers.
