Livestock Marketing Association, or LMA, member livestock marketing businesses have a front-row seat to the continued loss of livestock producers across the U.S. and see this as a critical threat to the livestock industry and our nation’s food supply.

Livestock producers face challenges with land, labor, over-regulation and input costs. We also continue to see grazing and forage production land lost to recreation, development, conservation reserve programs and crop production.   

Livestock Marketing Association members want to help create opportunities for their customers. And by supporting America's farmers and ranchers, we are supporting the future of livestock marketing, too.

In the below video, LMA Board Member Joe Goggins provides his insight.

The big issues 

Tax Issues

We must fight to eliminate the estate tax, also known as the death tax, so farms and ranches can stay in the family, generation after generation. But at the very minimum, we need to keep the current estate tax cap, which will sunset in 2025.

We must also protect special use valuation methods available to agricultural landowners that allow property taxes to be calculated based on productive agricultural value, as opposed to market value of the land.

Creating incentives for keeping land in livestock production

If there were incentives for keeping land for livestock and forage production, more new producers could enter the industry. This helps those who do not already own or lease land do so in a more affordable manner.

Creating opportunity to compete for land and margin

Livestock Risk Protection, Conservation Reserve Program, Pasture Rangeland Forage insurance and programs providing capital should be adjusted to allow livestock and forage producers to better compete for land.

Guard against unfunded mandates

USDA's rule requiring electronic ear tags for sexually intact beef cattle 18 months of age or older and dairy cattle of any age crossing state lines takes effect November 5, 2024. This rule cannot be an unfunded mandate. The new electronic tags are more expensive than the existing ones. LMA worked with Congress to provide USDA clear direction in Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations to provide all required tags and infrastructure necessary for stakeholders to comply with the Animal Disease Traceability program. LMA remains active with Congress, USDA, and State Veterinarians working to ensure required tags are provided. This is essential to keep livestock auctions from having to shoulder this expense or being forced to pass it on to their producer customers.

How you can help 

By working together, all industry segments can accomplish so much more than working individually. There is truly strength in numbers, and it will take us all to build a stronger, more profitable livestock industry.

Every voice matters, and every conversation gets us a little closer to our goal.

To help, reach out to those in your network — and to the agricultural organizations you belong to — and share ideas.

Watch: 2024 LMA Annual Convention Producer Profitability Panel

During the 2024 Livestock Marketing Association Annual Convention in Oklahoma City, a panel discussed the challenges that are driving more producers out of the business, as well as the opportunities to make livestock production a sustainable way of life for future generations.

The session was moderated by Russell Nemetz of the Western Ag Network and included panelists Brad Boner from the American Sheep Industry Association and M Diamond Angus Ranch; Carol Medeiros, a certified public accountant and owner of Rancho Casino Angus; Jake Parnell from Cattlemen’s Livestock Market; and Matt Perrier from Dalebanks Angus Ranch.