NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE KEEPING UP THE FIGHT by National Cattlemen's Beef Association Chief Executive Officer Collin Woodall We like to fight, and for 125 years fighting has been one of this association’s badges of honor. We take on the virtuous fights against fake proteins, animal extremists, regulatory attacks and the daily barrage of misinformation about cattle production. Taking a stand and putting up a fight is why our association has been successful and enjoys the reputation it does. However, we rarely take the time to lay our fights aside and take stock of what we have accomplished and where we have taken our association and this industry. Our fights have resulted in some amazing wins that we need to take credit for and appreciate. As we continue to celebrate the 125th anniversary of NCBA, I believe this milestone is the best start to appreciating our accomplishments. I am not sure that longevity was on the minds of the livestock producers who attended the first convention in 1898, but the foundation they set was firm and one we have built upon. Think about all the industry issues which have divided us across the years. Regional issues, marketing issues, trade and more. Any one of these could have dissolved our association, but the internal fights led to actions and policies which made us better. The simple fact that we are here and still putting up wins for cattle producers is something we need to be proud of. On the policy front, our tenacity and fortitude are serving us well. This year’s Supreme Court decision on the definition of Waters of the United
20 California Cattleman November 2023
States included arguments made by NCBA on what should, or should not, be considered a WOTUS. After close to two decades of fighting against this brazen show of EPA overreach, the Supreme Court decision proves that fighting for the right thing is worth every year and dollar we spent to protect your property rights. This is just one of many victories we have had in the environmental arena. When President Biden signed an executive order on climate change his first day in office, we knew we were going to be plagued with bad rules based on the wrong information about our impact on the environment. For close to three years, we have kept the administration at bay by showcasing we are part of the solution, not the problem, when it comes to greenhouse gases and environmental stewardship. Regarding green house gas regulations, NCBA can still win even when the political environment is unfriendly. The President’s 30x30 initiative also concerned us, especially when it came to our right to graze public lands. Even with an effort to rebrand 30x30 as “America the Beautiful,” NCBA played a role in marginalizing that