In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with Hunter Ihrman of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) about the upcoming midterm elections, spending by animal rights activist groups, and how NCBA plans to build relationships with new members of Congress. Ihrman also discussed the importance of face-to-face conversations with lawmakers and forming partnerships with organizations outside of agriculture. Part one of this conversation can be found here.
Anti-Animal Agriculture Groups Spending Millions in Elections
Ihrman said NCBA is watching the growing involvement of anti-animal agriculture groups in elections across the country, including spending tied to livestock policy debates. “Yes, new this year we are really seeing a lot of animal rights activist money being deployed in the election process,” Ihrman said.
He pointed to the American Meat Producers Association, which he said claims to be connected to family farming but is run by a former Humane Society executive. Ihrman cited $30 million spent in June in Kansas against Sen. Marshall and his legislation addressing Proposition 12, along with a $1.7 million spending announcement in October targeting Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. “This is a new thing that we need to contend with,” Ihrman said. “But I would also say, if this organization claims to represent family farmers and ranchers, where are those millions of dollars coming from? Because I certainly don’t know anybody who we represent who’s able to cut checks like that.”
With Sen. Marshall facing a difficult election, Ihrman said the amount of money being spent in Kansas presents a challenge. “But you know grassroots activity is really our best cure against some of that money,” Ihrman said. “You know, if we have good folks willing to speak up who are authentic, that will always be a better message than any kind of slick million-dollar ad campaign.”
NCBA Preparing to Work With a New Congress
Regardless of which party controls the House and Senate after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Ihrman said NCBA is preparing to introduce its priorities to incoming lawmakers. “Every time there’s a new Congress, it’s kind of like back to school for us,” Ihrman said.
He explained that the NCBA team plans to travel to Capitol Hill, meet with members of Congress and begin building relationships as soon as the new Congress takes office. “D.C. is still very much an in-person town, even in this age of Zoom meetings and virtual events,” Ihrman said. “You still get the most done by sitting across the table and looking someone in the eye and having a conversation.”
NCBA also plans to hold educational events to help lawmakers understand the cattle industry’s supply chain and the potential effects of federal policy decisions on producers.
Ihrman noted that some incoming lawmakers may not have previous experience in agriculture, but he said NCBA wants to work with those who are willing to learn. “We’re going to make sure we’re providing all that information to them so they can start making good decisions for the cattle business from day one,” he said.
Face-to-Face Outreach Helps Tell Agriculture’s Story
Ihrman said establishing relationships early in a new congressional session can open the door to additional educational opportunities, including farm and feedlot tours. “Helps build that relationship, sets us off on the right foot with some of these new members of Congress, and it opens the door for us to be able to do some joint events with our partners, to work with our state cattlemen’s associations, to organize farm tours and feedlot tours, and all those types of educational events that help these members of Congress see how their votes translate to real-world impact on all of all facets of the cattle industry,” Ihrman said.
He also discussed the role social media plays in shaping conversations around agricultural policy. Ihrman said animal rights activist groups are using social media to promote their positions and, in some cases, exploit differences of opinion within the cattle industry. “You know, animal rights activists know that there might be some difference of opinion in the cattle industry on some hot topics, and you know they’re trying to exploit those divisions to divide us and make us less unified when we’re going in and talking to the administration,” Ihrman said.
He added that social media discussions may not always accurately reflect the industry’s priorities, making direct communication with producers especially important. “That’s why it’s critical that we continue to bring real producers to D.C. so they can go and have a face-to-face conversation and talk about what’s really going on, and we go beyond what’s just going on on Twitter,” Ihrman said.
NCBA Building Partnerships Beyond Agriculture
Ihrman also discussed his work developing strategic partnerships with organizations outside the traditional agriculture sector. He said these relationships can help expand agriculture’s influence in Washington, D.C. “And ultimately, you know, we continue to say agriculture is just 2% of the population,” Ihrman said. “But that 2%, we need to have a much bigger voice than just 2% of the voice if we’re going to be advocating for our industry effectively.”
He said NCBA has worked with groups involved in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation because they share interests in maintaining productive rangeland and protecting wildlife habitat.
NCBA is also exploring partnerships with small-business coalitions, which share interests in issues such as lower taxes. “Those groups care about low taxes. So do our members, who are also small businesses,” Ihrman said.
Ihrman said building these relationships can help cattle producers connect with other groups that share similar policy priorities. “And part of the excitement is getting to find ways that agriculture connects to all these other interests in D.C. and building coalitions so that we have a stronger voice when we go to Capitol Hill, and that makes it easier for us to get our policy priorities achieved,” Ihrman said.
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.
