There are 19 members in the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau’s (CIRB) 2024-2025 class of the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), which is designed to build the next generation of crop insurance and reinsurance leaders. Now in the tenth year, the program offers extensive educational programming, valuable networking opportunities, and active engagement in Washington, D.C., to provide each class with a …
Rabo AgriFinance Working to Support Cattle Producers
John Steeves, Head of Rural Business Economics, North America, Rabo AgriFinance, has moved into the U.S. from Canada to work more closely with producers for the company. He has already spent time meeting with cattle producers and feedlots in several regions of the country. So, spending time at CattleCon 2025 was a no-brainer. I met John in the media room …
Ranchbot Launches Trough Direct at #CattleCon25
At CattleCon 2025 Ranchbot launched Trough Direct, a stand-alone trough monitor with direct satellite connectivity enabling near real-time water levels and consumption data through the MyRanchbot app. The Trough Direct operates independently and can be easily installed with a side or top mount to accommodate a wide variety of trough types. To learn more about it I interviewed Andrew Coppin, …
World Without Cows Screening at #CattleCon25
During the CattleCon 2025 an open screening of the documentary, World Without Cows (Sponsored by Alltech), was on the big screen in the general session room. I was able to see the screening and highly recommend it. On the stage are Dr. Mark Lyons, CEO, Alltech and the filmmakers Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitworth. I talked with Dr. Lyons after …
CIRB Protecting the Crop Insurance Industry
With a new Congress and a new administration, there are lots of new people who need to be educated about the importance of crop insurance and CIRB has its work cut out for it this year. “Obviously we are hoping to get a farm bill again this year,” said Tara Smith, Deputy Executive Vice President of the Crop Insurance and …
NCBA Announces 2025 Policy Priorities
This week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Executive Committee approved the organization’s policy priorities at CattleCon 2025. This year the focus will be on engaging with the Trump Administration and Congress to expand opportunities for producer profitability. “Right now it’s all about the first 100 days of a new administration. That’s really the focus of everything in Washington right …
Nebraska Cattleman Becomes New NCBA President
Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein stepped into the role of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president during CattleCon 2025, held this week in San Antonio, Texas. As president, Wehrbein sees both challenges and opportunities ahead, but he’s confident that NCBA’s unifying presence will remain critical to addressing key issues facing farmers and ranchers. He is particularly passionate about fostering opportunity for …
Critical Time for Crop Insurance at CIRB Annual Meeting
Members of the Crop Insurance Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) are holding their annual meeting this week in Florida at a critical time for the industry. “This meeting is very important just with the current political landscape, the change changing of the guards, if you will for multiple agencies across the the government with the Risk Management Agency being one of them,” …
Kansas Ranch Wins Environmental Stewardship Award
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) National winner is Downey Ranch in Wamego, Kansas. The award, which annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers, was presented to Barb Downey and her husband, Joe Carpenter, during CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio. “We are stewards of the land; we’ve …
San Antonio Welcomes CattleCon 2025
The biggest cattle industry event in the country kicked off today in San Antonio with thousands of cattle producers, industry partners and stakeholders attending CattleCon 2025. The day started with a issues update from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association team of policy experts. The opening general session featured the return of Buzz Brainard, host of Music Row Happy Hour, as …