74 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2026 PRODUCERS NEED CERTAINTY U.S. REP. ADRIAN SMITH (R-NEB.) Nebraska ranchers work hard to provide the world with high-quality, nutritious protein, all while dealing with many challenges outside of their control. Years of drought, barriers to international markets and the threat of New World screwworm have contributed to a shrinking cattle market and 74-year-low inventories. Producers work hard to identify these challenges, manage their risk and plan for their operations. American producers deserve as much certainty as we can provide, whether through animal disease preparedness, disaster programs or trade agreements. I am committed to ensuring federal policy delivers as much certainty as possible for our producers. New policy must be circumspect to avoid unintended consequences. I am regularly in contact with my colleagues in Congress and in the administration to share what Nebraskans already know: when outside forces unduly influence the market, it arbitrarily picks winners and losers. Too often, cattle ranchers are the ones who lose out. Despite decreased inventories, domestic beef production has remained relatively stable – emphasizing American producers’ commitment to providing affordable protein options. Thanks to world-leading advancements and the application of animal research like that conducted at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, ranchers in the United States produce nearly 20 percent of the world’s beef with only 8 percent of the world’s cattle. When markets are functioning correctly, maximizing the value of our cattle benefits both producers and processors. Constructive trade policy must consistently maintain existing opportunities for American producers, defend our prerogatives when our partners cheat and open new markets for our products. Last year, I worked closely with the administration to advance U.S. beef access in Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as identify other barriers to tackle in additional markets. In November, as co-chair of the Agricultural Trade Caucus, I led more than 100 of my House colleagues in writing to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer asking the administration to ensure the continued success of American producers across North America as the administration begins its six-year review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Mexico and Canada are Nebraska’s top agricultural export markets, and we must ensure the review builds on USMCA’s success without compromising this access. Likewise, I have led letters to USTR asking the administration to address the Republic of Korea’s mistreatment of U.S. retailers like Coupang, which provides the leading outlet for American beef sales in Korea, a major export market. In the wake of Tyson’s announced closure of its beef processing plant in Lexington, I continue to work with the governor and our congressional delegation to mitigate its effects on both Dawson County communities and the producers who have historically sold to Tyson for processing. Tyson must communicate a clear path forward for this facility, giving workers, livestock producers and the broader community the opportunity to make informed decisions. Leaving an empty plant or maintaining limited production is an unsatisfactory outcome for the community, and I have made it clear to corporate leadership that they must more fully utilize the facility or sell it expeditiously to someone who will. When our world-class producers are empowered with certainty in policy, it paves the way for investments, which can be a game changer for producers and consumers alike. When I attended the ribbon-cutting for the new Sustainable Beef plant in North Platte last March, we celebrated the projected $1.2 billion in annual economic activity across our state that it is expected to generate. Even more important, partnerships like this ensure producers have multiple outlets bidding for cattle while providing more control over the cattle they raise. ~NC~ POLICY When our world-class producers are empowered with certainty in policy, it paves the way for investments, which can be a game changer for producers and consumers alike.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMxNTA5