Federal Issues
Areas of Focus
We support the complete elimination of the federal estate tax. MSGA also supports the improvement and preservation of tools such as the step-up basis, Section 179, bonus depreciation, and special use valuation.
MSGA maintains a focus on ensuring truth in labeling, as well as ensuring U.S. beef remains eligible to meet the demands of a robust U.S. beef export market. This means we support labels that are source verified by USDA and are WTO compliant, while still meeting the needs of producers, consumers, and regulators.
We recognize the Taylor Grazing Act Grazing as the guiding policy related to federal lands grazing. Use of federal lands for grazing is also consistent with the Multiple Use Mandate outlined in FLPMA, and is extremely beneficial for land and habitat health, removes fire fuel from the landscape, and is crucial to the American livestock industry.
MSGA strongly supports ESA revisions including; a requirement of a robust analysis of environmental and economic prior to the listing of species. Additionally, we support the acknowledgement of sound and delisting of species when recovery has been proven through research and scientific studies.
A vitally important bill to American producers, the farm bill must include protecting voluntary conservation programs, strengthening risk management, and disaster programs for producers, and protecting the animal health provisions that were secured in the 2018 Farm Bill. MSGA discourages a stand-alone livestock title in the Farm Bill as it opens the door to government overreach and increased regulatory burden in the cattle industry.
MSGA advocates for cattle market transparency and public availability of information. We support the development of Cattle Contract Library that includes packer/feedlot financing agreements, and oppose any government mandates predetermining percentage of cattle sold via various marketing channels.
