New TCFA Chairman Laphe LaRoe
TCFA CEO Ben Weinheimer
us. Now, we have fat back in [the diet] and everybody loves it. “Demand for our beef [is huge],” Wehrbe- in added.“A lot of that is due to the Beef Checkoff. We’re defending the checkoff against those who don’t like it. I understand those who feel it may not be set up right. But I don’t see why you would burn your house down, when [the checkoff] is work- ing and doing a good job. Our [checkoff] referendum is 76 percent positive. I encour- age you to always defend it.” New TCFA Officers Laphe LaRoe, a cattle feeder from Amarillo, is TCFA’s 2026 chairman. He is joined on the officer team by Ben Fort of Amarillo, serving as TCFA chairman-elect, and War- ren White of Hereford, who steps into the officer rotation as TCFA vice chairman.
TCFA CEO Ben Weinheimer dis- cussed these points during his associa- tion year-in-review: » 96 percent of TCFA’s 163-mem- ber feedyard capacity is BQA certified. » The cattle feeding region has a $16 billion economic impact on Texas, New Mexico and Okla- homa. » TCFA member feedyards fin- ished some 3.1 billion pounds of beef last year, enough to feed 55 million consumers. » TCFA youth programs provided more than $90,000 in scholar- ships and other educational high school and college students.
Even though the new Farm Bill hasn’t been passed, Wehrbein said,“it looks like it will be the best Farm Bill cattlemen have ever seen. With the Big Beautiful Bill, we got 90 to 95 percent of it done. That was huge.” He noted that extensive outlays for animal health, conservation programs, Livestock Risk Protection risk management tools, and keeping the Death Tax from hurting many smaller cattle operations were victories for agriculture. Like many in agriculture, Wehrbein was skeptical of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., be- ing named U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.“I thought,‘this is a wreck.’ Then he said he cooks his turkey in beef tallow, and he tweeted in favor of more beef jerky. When MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] came out, it was good for
POST TCFA CONVENTION ACTION D uring the TCFA Convention, CattleFax CEO Randy Blach warned producers, feeders and others to use risk protection to prepare for
streamlined grazing lands; improved USDA livestock and forage risk programs; volunteer USA labeling; reducing costs for small beef processors; and enhanced access to feeder cattle data. “We commend President Trump and Sec. Rollins for continu- ing to prioritize issues important to cattle producers and beef consumers,” TCFA Chairman Laphe LaRoe said.“While cattle inventories have reached a 70-plus-year low, consumer demand for beef remains high, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Trump administration to ensure consumers have access to the safe and nutritious beef they desire.“ TCFA officials also joined Sec. Rollins and U.S. Trade Ambassa- dor to Mexico Ronald Johnson in attending a U.S. trade mission to Mexico. The goal is to extend export opportunities for Ameri- can farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses by expanding economic opportunities, supporting rural prosperity and keeping American agricultural products globally competitive. On the NWS control front, TCFA noted that a new sterile fly dispersal facility has opened in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon, if necessary.
market disruptions. Only a day or two later, cattle markets plunged unexpectedly following President Trump’s consideration that the U.S. may import more Argentina beef to lower consumer beef prices. The negative impact caused a limit-down market movement. TCFA indicated such incidents serve as a reminder that remarks like these have serious implications on cattle mar- kets. The Argentina issue didn’t set well at NCBA.“NCBA and its members cannot stand behind the president while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef in an attempt to influence prices,” NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said.“It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work.” On a positive note, in late October Sec. Rollins announced a major plan to “fortify the beef industry, strengthening ranches, rebuilding capacity and lowering costs for con- sumers.” The program addressed veterans and ranching;
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