The future of the cattle industry is shaped by decisions made far beyond the ranch gate. From federal tax policy and international trade agreements to transportation regulations and public lands management, the policies being debated today will influence producers ' ability to succeed for years to come. As these issues move through Congress and federal agencies, NCBA continues to advocate for practical, producerdriven solutions that strengthen family farms and ranches and support a competitive U. S. cattle industry.

Over the years, NCBA has secured significant victories for cattle producers, including reforms to the Waters of the U. S. rule and expanded Death Tax relief. However, preventing harmful policies from becoming law can be just as important as advancing new opportunities. Often, stopping a bad policy protects producers from costly consequences and preserves the long-term viability of the industry.

Over the past year, policymakers have revisited several flawed proposals from the past while introducing new measures that could negatively affect producers. When these proposals emerge, NCBA turns to its greatest strength: the grassroots power of America’ s cattle producers. By engaging directly with Congress and the administration, producers help policymakers understand the real-world impacts these ideas could have on cattle operations and rural communities.

The following update highlights the key policy priorities, legislative developments, and regulatory actions shaping the future of the U. S. cattle industry.

Farm Bill

It’ s important to note that many of NCBA’ s Farm Bill priorities were advanced through the One Big Beautiful Bill. These included improvements to the Livestock Forage Disaster and Livestock Indemnity programs, full funding for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank which houses the U. S. stockpile of footand-mouth disease vaccine, and increased support for conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program( EQIP).

While these gains were important, passage of a comprehensive Farm Bill remains critical to providing certainty and stability for cattle producers. Although the Farm Bill expired in 2023, Congress has extended its provisions through budget legislation while negotiations continue on a long-term reauthorization. Today, both the House and Senate have drafted Farm Bill proposals, but the legislation remains at different stages of the process in each chamber.

House Status The House, led by Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson( R- Pa.), passed its Farm Bill with bipartisan support in April. The legislation includes several important priorities for cattle producers, including:

• Expansion of conservation programs and reauthorization of the Conservation Reserve Program( CRP) through Fiscal Year 2031 while maintaining the current 27-million-acre cap.

8 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN DIRECTIONS 2026