In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Gene Copenhaver, who says his first six months leading the organization have been even busier than he anticipated. From traveling the country to meeting with producers and working alongside NCBA’s Washington, D.C., policy team, Copenhaver said the experience has reinforced the importance of serving the entire beef industry.
“It’s been that and more. It’s a lot, lot more,” Copenhaver said. “It’s been fast and furious. Six months is going on quick, and I’m sure the next six months will too. It’s good to work for a great industry out here for great people all over the country and different sectors.”
Strong Markets Bring Opportunity—and Challenges
As Copenhaver visits with cattle producers across the country, he said different segments of the industry are experiencing today’s record cattle markets in different ways.
Cow-calf producers continue to enjoy historically strong prices, while stocker operators and feedyards are working to manage shrinking margins and plan ahead. “I’m hearing that the cow-calf guys are real happy with what they’re doing as far as prices and markets,” Copenhaver said. “The more margin sectors, the stocker and feedlot guys, are worried about 2027 and trying to get some margins there and trying to lock in some profits. It’s just hard to do on the front end.”
As a stocker operator himself, Copenhaver admitted the current market environment presents unique challenges. “I’m a stocker guy, and we’re in the margin business,” he said. “We’re back in the market bringing cattle in… trying to find that profit margin, or trying to even find break even at times. It’s been tough for us.”
LRP Continues to Be a Valuable Risk Management Tool
One tool Copenhaver credits with helping producers manage today’s volatile market is Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance.
He said the program works especially well for stocker operators because it offers flexibility regardless of herd size. “The LRP, for anybody, whether you have one animal or 5,000 animals, it’s just the same program for everybody,” Copenhaver said. “The subsidy helps too.” He added that while he has also used options and traditional hedging strategies, LRP has fit his operation particularly well.
Building Relationships in Washington
Serving as NCBA president has also given Copenhaver an up-close look at the organization’s policy work in Washington, D.C.
He said what has impressed him most is the staff’s ability to develop relationships with lawmakers and regulatory officials. “What impressed me is the knowledge of our staff in D.C. to get on the Hill and make those relationships,” Copenhaver said. “I was an ag banker for 38 years, and relationships were what it was all about in ag banking. They have to make those same relationships in D.C., on the Hill, or with other groups, and they’ve been impressive doing that.”
Cutting Through the Noise
With information moving rapidly across social media, Copenhaver acknowledged that producers are often faced with rumors and conflicting messages.
He believes NCBA has an important responsibility to provide accurate information to its members. “There’s a lot of noise. Social media has changed everything,” Copenhaver said. “When we hear something or a rumor that’s not totally true, we have to speak up, and our communications team does a good job of communicating what we’re all about at NCBA.”
Looking Forward to Oklahoma
Copenhaver also shared his excitement about traveling to Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Convention in Tulsa. Copenhaver will speak at the OCA General Business Meeting at the Convention on Saturday morning. “One of the best parts of being president of NCBA is getting out and seeing different God-given assets and different people,” he said. “Different landscapes, same people—rural people treat you like family no matter where you are, even if you’re from southwest Virginia.”
After dealing with drought in his home state before receiving much-needed rainfall, Copenhaver said recent moisture has made a noticeable difference. “We were in a D3, now we’re in a D1, and it gives you a different outlook on life when you get some water to help things grow.”
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.
