From the President
Buck Wehrbein
NCBA’ S LANDMARK VICTORIES IN 2025
It seems every year, we say we are living in“ unprecedented times,” but this past year has been especially unique for us in the cattle business. As I think about how many issues our industry has faced in 2025, I am extremely grateful that we have representation through NCBA.
We began last year with a new presidential administration coming into office, already a busy time, coupled with an emerging animal health threat from the New World Screwworm moving up from South America. NCBA hit the ground running by educating all the new officials at the U. S. Department of Agriculture( USDA) and the White House so they could begin working to stop the Screwworm’ s march north. While the threat still remains, USDA has designated a location to start building a NWS sterile fly facility and the Food and Drug Administration has rolled out new products to treat NWS, both top priorities for NCBA. This year, we will continue encouraging USDA to expedite production of sterile flies so we can firmly push this pest away from our border.
This past year, NCBA secured passage of landmark tax legislation, which President Trump called the One Big Beautiful Bill. The bill was signed into law on July 4, 2025, after months of NCBA’ s hard work to get the bill through Congress. The One Big Beautiful Bill delivered record tax cuts to cattle producers, helping us keep more of our hard earned income. I am especially proud of the Death Tax reductions included in the bill, which will help farmers and ranchers transfer their land to the next generation and set them up for success.
Near the end of last year, NCBA delivered a new Waters of the United States( WOTUS) rule that ends decades of overreach and uncertainty on cattle producers. Cattle producers have suffered under shifting rules that made it difficult for us to make management decisions on our land.
The new WOTUS rule limits federal authority over small,
isolated water features like stock ponds, prairie potholes or dry ditches. Once the Trump administration finalizes this WOTUS rule later this year, only water features that directly connect to a large lake, river or ocean will be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency( EPA). The rule also protects WOTUS exemptions for prior converted cropland, waste treatment systems, and groundwater, making sure the federal government does not overreach into regulating these features. This is a tremendous victory for the cattle industry, and something NCBA has led the fight on for years.
As we enter 2026, I would be remiss if I didn’ t mention that we are now in the U. S. semiquincentennial or the 250th anniversary of our nation since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Despite all the issues we face, we can remember how blessed we are to live in this country with all the freedoms we enjoy. The American cattle industry has been feeding our nation for the last 250 years, and I am confident we will continue providing the highest-quality protein for the next 250 years and beyond. NCBA has been there to support our livelihoods since 1898 and, as we reflect on America’ s history this year, I am also thinking about the value of having an advocate for our industry watching our backs every day.
We will have more policy updates to share at CattleCon in Nashville, Feb. 3-5. In addition to our grassroots policy process, CattleCon is a great way to get information on everything happening in Washington, D. C., network with vendors at the NCBA Trade Show, and learn about how NCBA is working for you. I hope to see you there!
Thank you for supporting NCBA and being part of the association that has fought for our rights for 128 years. We will continue proudly representing you for generations to come.
I would be remiss if I didn’ t mention that we are now in the U. S. semiquincentennial or the 250th anniversary of our nation since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. www. NCBA. org NATIONAL CATTLEMEN 5