False Information On New Cattle Disease

Statement from NCBA CEO Colin Woodall

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is aware of online rumors that allege a new or unknown animal disease is circulating in a feedlot in the Texas Panhandle. These claims are false. Animal health officials from USDA, state officials in Texas, along with leaders at Texas Cattle Feeders Association, have confirmed there is no such disease present.

Spreading unverified information like this is not only irresponsible, it is harmful to cattle producers, the beef supply chain, and consumer confidence in a safe and wholesome product. Our industry depends on transparency, science-based animal health protocols, and strong collaboration with state and federal animal health authorities.

We encourage everyone—producers, media, and the public—to rely on credible sources and verified information. NCBA and state affiliate partners will continue working closely with animal health officials to monitor any legitimate concerns and ensure the continued health of the U.S. cattle herd.”

 

Opinion -- Black Vulture Relief Act Moves Out of House Committee

By the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

On Wednesday July 16, 2025, the House Natural Resources Committee held a full committee markup of several bills, including the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association commends the House Natural Resources Committee for reporting this legislation out of committee favorably. This legislation addresses an issue that NCBA members have faced for years, as they have dealt with the devastating attacks on their livestock without the ability to protect their cattle from these predators.

“Cattle producers across much of the nation are facing the financial and emotional strain of livestock depredations due to overabundant black vultures. Populations have skyrocketed into the millions in recent years. The current take permit numbers are just not enough to properly manage the population while also protecting newborn calves that make easy targets for these predators,” said NCBA President-Elect and Virginia cattleman Gene Copenhaver. “We are seeing the lowest cattle inventory numbers since the 1950s. As cattle producers, we cannot afford to risk newborn calves to predators, like black vultures, if we are going to begin rebuilding the herd. We are thankful for the work of Congressman John Rose for introducing this legislation and for Chairman Bruce Westerman’s continued support by advancing this bill through the House Natural Resources Committee.”

Background

Black vulture depredation rates have increased across the Southeast in recent years, surpassing 30% in some states like Florida. The bill would allow a cattle producer to “take” (capture, kill, disperse, or transport) black vultures that pose a risk to livestock. Additionally, the bill reduces permitting burdens and red tape by instituting a simple report that producers submit once per year detailing the number of black vultures they took. Streamlining the system and lifting the cap on the number of black vultures that producers can take is a commonsense approach to managing a fully recovered, aggressive predator species.

 

Opinion -- USDA Seeks to Protect Cattle Industry from New World Screwworm

By the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced support for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ actions to protect the American cattle industry from the rising threat of New World screwworm.

“The U.S. spent millions of dollars to eradicate New World screwworm from our borders in the 1960s but unfortunately, we are now facing this dangerous threat again,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “Screwworm is very destructive and could cost American producers millions of dollars a year if it reaches us. Americans have been investing in prevention efforts in Central America for decades, but we can’t stop this without Mexico’s participation. NCBA strongly supports Secretary Rollins holding Mexico to their commitments regarding screwworm eradication.”

In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was notified that New World screwworm was detected in Mexico. NCBA has been working closely with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to increase surveillance, inspection, and other measures to counter this pest.

At the same time, NCBA has also been working with USDA to expand the use of the sterile insect technique, which requires the continuous release of sterile male screwworm files that breed with wild screwworms and result in no offspring, eradicating the species.

Unfortunately, Mexican authorities have failed to uphold their end of the agreement by disrupting planes carrying these sterile male files, refusing pilots permission to land, and instituting customs duties on flight components, sterile flies, and sterile insect technique equipment.

“We have received multiple reports that critical flights carrying these sterile flies have been denied permission to land, faced bogus paperwork issues, and been charged high customs fees. As a result, we have lost significant time and investment that has allowed these dangerous pests to spread unchecked into southern Mexico,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “In light of those reports, NCBA met with the Mexican Embassy earlier this week to deliver the message that the Mexican government needs to be a partner on eradicating screwworms to protect both animal and human health. It’s time for Mexican authorities to act and we appreciate Secretary Rollins standing with American and Mexican cattle producers who want to see this pest stopped dead in its tracks.”

Earlier this week, NCBA President Wehrbein also met with senior officials at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. to press for further action on screwworm eradication. NCBA will continue this critical work to ensure we are protecting U.S. consumers and the health of the American cattle herd.

 

Trump Tariffs — Pro and Con

Pro — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued a statement after attending President Donald J. Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement at the White House:

“For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world and optimize opportunities for exports abroad.”

Numerous countries impose tariff and non-tariff trade barriers on American beef that inhibit opportunities to export our high-quality product. For example,

—Australia has sold roughly $29 billion of beef to American consumers. Meanwhile, we have not been able to sell $1 of fresh U.S. beef in Australia due to non-scientific barriers. This was noted in one of President Donald Trump’s recent tweets.

—Vietnam places a 30% tariff on U.S. beef while Australian beef faces no such tariff.

—Thailand places a 50% tariff on U.S. beef.

—Brazil and Paraguay have a history of dangerous foot-and-mouth disease, but despite overwhelming evidence of their animal health risk, the Biden administration continued to allow U.S. market access to Brazil and Paraguay.

—The European Union places numerous non-scientific “Green New Deal” restrictions on American beef, limiting market opportunities.

—American cattle producers raise the highest-quality and safest beef in the world and NCBA continues to push for more opportunities for U.S. producers to sell their beef abroad, increasing profitability.

In addition, President Donald Trump argues that the tariffs are beneficial because it becomes cheaper for companies to locate in the US and avoid the tariffs. He says that since the start of his second term, over $1.5 trillion worth of private investment has been secured for the US.

Con — Yale Budget Lab

The Yale Budget Lab argues that the tariffs have a disproportionate effect on the poor and the middle class.

—The price level from all 2025 tariffs rises by 2.3% in the short run, the equivalent of an average per household consumer loss of $3,800 in 2024 dollars. Annual losses for households at the bottom of the income distribution are $1,700.

—The 2025 tariffs disproportionately affect clothing and textiles, with apparel prices rising 33%. Food prices rise 4.5%, roughly triple recent grocery inflation.

—US real GDP growth is -0.9pp lower from all 2025 tariffs. In the long-run, the US economy is persistently -0.6% smaller respectively, the equivalent of $180 billion annually in 2024$.

—The unemployment rate rises 0.5 percentage point by the end of 2025, and payroll employment is 600,000 lower.

Since the April 2nd report, China announced retaliatory tariffs of 34% on all US goods, and President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 104%. The figures quoted above do not reflect these changes.

The figures quoted above do not necessarily reflect subsequent changes in these tariffs. For instance, on Tuesday, President Donald Trump touted a potential deal with South Korea involving tariffs, shipbuilding, a joint venture in an Alaska pipeline, and payments for the protection the US gives to protect them from North Korean aggression. His Secretary of Treasury, Scott Bessent, reported that almost 70 countries have now approached the US wanting to rebalance global trade.