TABLE OF CONTENTS

As we prepared to send the spring edition of Directions to print, I was struck by how many of the conversations circulating in Washington, D.C., and across the countryside are built on a foundation of work our producers are already doing. That leadership is part of our heritage and yet is too often ignored by detractors of animal agriculture.

There are several things you can count on holding true for most cattle producers across our industry. They will go to any length to care for their livestock, they invest in improving resources like soil and water, they care deeply about passing down a legacy to their children — and they are unlikely to brag about any of this.

As we prepared to send the spring edition of Directions to print, I was struck by how many of the conversations circulating in Washington, D.C., and across the countryside are built on a foundation of work our producers are already doing. That leadership is part of our heritage and yet is too often ignored by detractors of animal agriculture.

On transportation, our policy team is working hard to get legislation like the HAULS Act and Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act across the finish line. These measures would give producers and livestock haulers the regulatory flexibility they need to safely and humanely transport cattle. As NCBA engages with lawmakers on these bills, our case is made for us by the record of success that haulers already have seen. We know, when given the opportunity, our people can maintain safety on our roads and protect the highest standards of animal welfare in transit.

On sustainability, our producer education team is leading a series of webinars this spring that showcase the knowledge and scientific research industry leaders have been refining for years to help producers increase their profits and make the best decisions for the ecological health of their land. Many public figures have made the news recently for comments on the cattle and beef industry, but their remarks betray how behind they are on these issues. Cattle producers have long worked to improve

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Jerry Bohn, NCBA President

efficiency and reduce environmental impact, while still improving the quality of the beef we deliver to consumers. Producers have made significant strides in efficiency. The amount of water used to produce one pound of beef has declined 12 percent, and the industry’s carbon footprint has gone down 16 percent. We must be proactive about broadcasting these successes.

On the issue of taxes, once again, the cattle industry is proactive rather than reactive. NCBA is leading the industry in a letter campaign to increase the pressure on lawmakers to permanently repeal the death tax. We are also advocating for the preservation of policies that allow agricultural producers to operate more efficiently by managing their tax liabilities through critical tools like the step up in basis and like-kind exchanges. NCBA is out front on legislative solutions to protect provisions in the tax code that ultimately ensure the viability of family-owned farms and ranches.

When decisionmakers and advocates rail against animal agriculture, there is hardly a concern they can name that cattle producers have not already arrived at first — and worked to fix, even at great personal and financial cost to their own operation. Producers are consistently ahead of the curve. This clear record of initiative and innovation on everything from climate issues to transportation is also a clear indication that we can be trusted to do the right thing voluntarily, without government overreach.

As NCBA continues to work to increase profitability for producers, we will also continue to find ways to highlight the work producers are already doing. Our industry has an excellent story to tell, and you can count on us to shout it from the proverbial rooftop.