At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall about the recent passage of the big beautiful bill and the tragic Texas floods. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.
Woodall quickly highlighted the importance of recent legislative victories and ongoing policy discussions for the cattle industry regarding the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill. He pointed to the passage of tax extensions and the significance of the Farm Bill, noting that both developments have brought momentum to the industry. “It’s a good time to be in San Diego for the summer business meeting,” Woodall remarked, referencing the positive policy environment.
However, much of the conversation quickly turned to the devastation in Texas caused by severe flooding. Woodall shared concerns from ranchers on the ground, saying, “We’re seeing loss of equipment, loss of fences, loss of houses and barns, also loss of cattle. So yes, this is just pure devastation throughout the state of Texas, especially in that central area.” Woodall tells the ranchers affected that there will be programs to help them recover from the loss. He stressed the importance of documentation, advising producers to maintain multiple copies of their operation records: “It’s Texas today, but it’s fires in the West, it’s hurricane season coming up. Just make it a whole lot easier to get some help in recovery from the federal government.”
Woodall reassured producers that disaster assistance programs remain in place despite budget concerns. “Yeah, the programs are there and will continue to be there. And if something is falling short, we know that Congress has a history of stepping up and trying to make people whole.” Woodalls word to those effected is “Make sure you’re reaching out to us to the NCBA to the Texas southwestern cattle raisers association and your local county organization” additionally he stated “Let us know what you’re dealing with the better idea we have of the amount of devastation, the amount of losses, is going to make it a whole lot easier for us to be an advocate.”
Wrapping up, Woodall emphasized NCBA’s advocacy role in national disaster response: “We do that with every natural disaster share [the stories] with USDA, share them with the White House, share them with Congress.” He reinforced the link between agriculture and national well-being, stating, “Food security is national security.” Texas officials, including Governor Abbott, are responding across regions like the Hill Country, Concho Valley, and Central Texas, while Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Veterinary Emergency Team continue relief work. Woodall and others remain committed to helping ranchers recover in this “once in a millennium” flooding event.
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 for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
