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CEO says there are opportunities for ag under new Congress

The head of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says there are opportunities for agriculture as the new Congress gets to work.

Colin Woodall says the leadership of both the U.S. Senate and House Ag Committees understand agriculture. “To be able to have Senator Boozman as the chair of the Senate Ag Committee, knowing that we have to get a farm bill done,” he says.  “We have full faith in him and his team and also with the help of the new ranking member Amy Klobuchar, Senator Klobuchar has shown that she’s willing to work with us in the cattle business and we’re excited about that, too.”

He tells Brownfield there is also strong leadership in the House Ag Committee. “Everybody knows GT Thompson is just a solid, solid chairman of the House Ag Committee,” he says.  “But now, with Angie Craig coming up as the ranking Democrat, we have 4 principled members who want agriculture to be successful and want cattle producers to be successful.”

But, Woodall says Congress has to address the issues most pressing to agriculture. “We need the farm bill,” he says. “We need some certainty in taxes, so let’s get the tax package passed and do everything we can to try to support the President and his rollback of these rules and regulations.”

AUDIO: Colin Woodall, NCBA