Cattle policy issues remain on the radar

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association hosted a Stockmanship and Stewardship webinar Nov. 18-19, and leaders discussed several ongoing policy issues.

NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs Sigrid Johannes, speaking Nov. 19, said it has been an eventful autumn with the government shutdown, a standalone ag funding bill, beef-related policy plans from the administration, ongoing efforts to keep the New World screwworm out of the United States and several other issues.

Johannes said the federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, ended when Congress passed funding at fiscal year 2025 levels through January.

She said there could be another shutdown at that time, although likely not as long.

Extended farm bill

She said Congress passed a standalone ag funding bill for fiscal year 2026, which runs through the end of September, so ag programs and services would be able to continue through another shutdown.

“They have passed an ag standalone funding bill, which is a huge win for agriculture,” Johannes said.

She said even if there is another government shutdown in 2026, there will not be any interruptions to USDA and Farm Service Agency services.

“It’ll look and feel different than the shutdown we just had because ag is funded,” Johannes said.

The ag funding bill includes funding for regular USDA activities such as APHIS animal and plant health efforts, ag marketing information and data, FSA office staffing and research.