In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Ethan Lane, head of the Washington, D.C., office for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, about the top policy issues facing cattle producers during the 2026 Summer Cattle Industry Business Meeting in Denver.
Lane said New World screwworm continues to dominate conversations across the cattle industry as producers monitor USDA’s response and await decisions regarding the U.S.-Mexico border. “That continues, obviously, to be the big issue that we’re talking about, especially in the southern states,” Lane said. “We’re watching that case count. We’re watching USDA’s work there.”
He said the industry has made significant progress over the past year by expanding available tools to combat the pest. “We have screwworm facilities coming online. We’re going to have the tools that we need, and we are in far better position than we were a year ago,” Lane said. “There has been a tremendous amount of work done, and there’s a tremendous amount of credit due to USDA, to all of the state cattlemen’s associations, and my team at NCBA.”
Lane emphasized that producers should recognize how much has already been accomplished. “It’s a nice point to take a breath and realize that, boy, we’re in better shape than we could have been,” he said. “Now we wait to see what the next steps are to normalize this environment, knowing we’re going to be dealing with this for several years to come.”
Border Reopening Should Happen When Conditions Are Right
As discussions continue about eventually reopening cattle imports from Mexico, Lane said NCBA supports allowing USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to make that decision when surveillance and control measures are sufficient. “We’ve continued to say that we believe the border should be open when the secretary feels that all of those items have fallen into place,” Lane said. “We’re supportive of her making that decision when it makes sense.”
He added that once officials are confident New World screwworm is under control within the United States, reopening additional trade channels becomes more realistic.
Prop 12 Fight Has Implications Beyond Pork
Lane also pushed back against claims that Proposition 12 only affects pork producers, arguing that the issue could eventually reach the cattle industry. “It is absolutely a direct impact on the cattle industry in that if the animal rights activist community can make this stick, they will come towards us next,” Lane said. “That is without question.”
He criticized organizations opposing efforts to modify Proposition 12. “They’re spending $30 or $40 million a month on these campaigns to oppose a fix to Proposition 12. They’re pretending to be farmers and ranchers. They’re all wearing cowboy hats. They’re completely full of it.”
NCBA Supporting Oklahoma Producers in Chicken Litter Case
Lane also discussed the ongoing chicken litter litigation involving Oklahoma and Arkansas, saying NCBA believes the case could have nationwide implications for livestock producers. “NCBA is standing with our producers in Oklahoma and trying to be as supportive as we can,” Lane said. “We’ll be filing an amicus brief in that case.”
He said producers need confidence that approved nutrient management plans will continue to be recognized and protected. “Producers have to be able to have confidence when they go into a nutrient management plan that the work they put on the ground is going to be respected and valued and protected,” Lane said. “Destabilizing those kinds of arrangements has broad-reaching implications.”
EPA Setting the Pace on Deregulation
Lane also praised recent regulatory efforts at the Environmental Protection Agency while encouraging similar action from the Department of the Interior. “Administrator Zeldin has hit the ground running,” Lane said. “EPA is kind of demonstrating the model right now of the most efficient deregulatory process.”
He added that cattle producers are still awaiting additional action on Endangered Species Act issues, grazing regulations, and other matters affecting western ranchers.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR above for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Our coverage of the 2026 Summer Cattle Industry Business Meeting from Denver is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
