Matt Teagarden

On the staff of the Kansas Livestock Association.

[Texas Cattle Feeders Association @txcattlefeeders]

A joint statement from Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Kansas Livestock Association and Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association regarding the ongoing ICE operations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas:

“The Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association are closely monitoring reported U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity affecting agricultural communities in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

Our organizations respect the responsibility of federal agencies to enforce the law. At the same time, cattle producers, feedyards, dairies, livestock markets, processors, and other rural businesses depend on a stable workforce to care for animals, protect food safety, and keep the supply chains operating. Sudden workforce disruptions can create immediate animal-welfare, operational, and economic consequences that extend well beyond an individual business. These ICE operations are having a massive chilling effect on the legal, documented, skilled workers that put beef on the table and keep the cattle supply chain moving. Additionally, these types of disruptions will lead to higher beef prices for consumers.

Reported impacts to our organizations throughout the past few days have been:
- Thousands of fed cattle slated for shipping to processors now delayed, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue and additional costs.
- Workforce disruptions at numerous supply chain chokepoints such as feedyards, dairies, processors, feed and grain companies, transportation hubs, and community services.

These disruptions come at a time of enhanced focus and pressure on the cattle and beef supply chain. They are a costly and unnecessary impact to cattle producers already suffering from unwelcome political interference to both the markets as well as the physical supply chain. Frustratingly, the harm these actions cause to cattle producers last for days and weeks after such operations conclude.

We urge federal officials to conduct enforcement actions in a lawful, orderly, and transparent manner; respect due process; and communicate clearly with affected employers and communities.”

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 @DrAcfa @CowsnRedbirds Checkoff rules don’t allow promoting beef based on origin.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 Likewise. I appreciate your insight.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 I understand. I get frustrated by the whole “NCBA is just carrying the packers water” narrative. Cattle producers drive the NCBA policy process. As a cattle producer it is ok to disagree with an NCBA policy. But it’s a fellow cattle producer you’re disagreeing with.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 The board makeup is a little different. Still 186 for state affiliates, 10 for breed associations, exec committee members, past presidents, etc. On the board the allied industry council has 2 and product council has 11.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 There are 7 committees. State affiliates have 186 committee slots. Breed associations have 10 I believe. Then a handful of others.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 And yes, the product council has one seat on the policy committees.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 This started with NCBA stating their opposition to mCOOL. You then said you would explain why NCBA would take such a position. Among the explanations was the post above that corporations buy their way in to policy committees. The inference there is those corps set the policy.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 That members of the Product Council and Allied Industry Council are determining NCBA policy.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 I’m not arguing policy either. I’m describing the policy process that I’ve been part of for 25 years. Your description isn’t accurate.

[KansasLivestockAssn. @newsfromkla]

Kevin Good from @cattlefax will join us for Beef Industry University Thursday morning to provide a comprehensive market outlook for 2026, taking into consideration energy costs, beef exports, competing meat supplies and consumer demand.

[KansasLivestockAssn. @newsfromkla]

Industry consultant Nevil Speer will help kick off this year's KLA Convention as keynote speaker during the Cattlemen's Banquet. Join us in Manhattan next week for a great program!

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@KINGS1973 The sheep industry didn’t implement a producer checkoff … just sayin.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

@WynnLasVegas Are cigars allowed at your pools?

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

Offside? Prolly got a warning.

[Aaron Popelka @aplandandcattle]

H Sub for SB 261 is on the House floor Monday. Please take a minute, follow the link, and contact your legislator. Fake meat companies are lobbying hard against the bill so they can keep their deceptive labeling practices.

[Matt Teagarden @TeagardenMatt]

Consumers need to know if they’re buying real beef or fake meat! Support H Sub for SB 261. #fakemeat #ksleg https://t.co/aiwBvcZRPn

[KansasLivestockAssn. @newsfromkla]

Consumer’s need to know if they’re buying real beef or fake meat! Contact your legislator today at https://t.co/r4crSiXSCp and tell them you support House Sub for SB 261. #fakemeat #ksleg

[KansasLivestockAssn. @newsfromkla]

House Water Comm. passed HB 2686 with KLA supported amendment to replace the bill with a set aside of sales tax revenue to fund the state water plan & GMD annual reporting. All other provisions stricken - no new fees or bureaucracy & Chief Engineer stays at KDA. #KLAattheCapitol