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 …
Ethanol Report on Working with New Administration
President Donald Trump has been very busy since his inauguration issuing executive orders, making changes, and freezing funding, but how will his actions impact the ethanol industry? In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper comments on some of the actions President Trump has taken and where ethanol’s priorities stand in the …
CattleCon 2025 Preview
It’s time for the 2025 CattleCon. To get a preview of this year’s event I spoke with Kristin Torres, Executive Director of Meetings and Event, NCBA. She covers all the activities and if you’re interested you can also just link to the schedule here. CattleCon is where the beef industry meets! We’re headed to San Antonio February 4-6, 2025! At …
ZimmCast 741 – Clean Fuels in 2025
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. While Cindy was home during the major snow storm in Florida I was attending the Clean Fuels Conference in San Diego, CA. The weather was delightful for the conference. However, in the Pensacola, FL area there was eight to ten inches of snow, something that hasn’t happened in over 150 years! But it has …