As a general manager and partner at Burwell Livestock Market and Broken Bow Livestock in Nebraska, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges facing our cattle industry. And I’m facing them, too, as we also run a cow-calf operation on the edge of the Sandhills. From rising input costs to labor shortages, producers are navigating a tough landscape. But there’s hope—and it starts with unity.
The recent Common Ground Summit marked a pivotal moment for our industry, bringing together leaders to forge a unified voice and a shared path forward. As a member of the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Board of Directors, I’m proud to advocate for this collective effort, because our future depends on it.
For too long, the livestock industry has been fragmented, with groups advocating passionately but often at odds. When we speak with competing voices, our message gets diluted, and policymakers struggle to hear us clearly. The Common Ground Summit changed that.
At the event in Denver, a cross-section of industry representatives—busy people with deep ties to cow-calf operations, auction markets, feedyards and more—came together. They were not there to just plan another meeting, but to act. They crafted a list of policy priorities that address the real issues producers face, from tax burdens to labor challenges and barriers to entry.
Take the federal transfer tax, for example. Keeping the current lifetime exemption amounts, indexed for inflation, and retaining the step-up in basis is critical to ensuring family ranches can pass to the next generation without being crippled by taxes.
Or consider the labor shortage, a daily struggle in small towns like Burwell and Broken Bow, where competition for workers is fierce. The summit’s call to reform H-2A programs—removing seasonality rules and streamlining processes—would make it easier for producers to access reliable help. These policies, along with others like tax credits for young producers and exemptions for livestock haulers, aren’t just ideas. They’re lifelines for an industry under pressure.
What struck me most about the summit was the turnout. Nearly everyone invited showed up, proof that we all recognize the need for unity. My business partner attended and was amazed at what they accomplished in just a few days. That momentum is real, but it’s only the beginning. Now, we need every producer, stocker operator, auction market owner, feeder and stakeholder to join this coalition and amplify our voice.
I’ve seen the power of advocacy firsthand. A couple of years ago, I joined an LMA Fly-In. I went to Washington, D.C., skeptical, but left impressed by how receptive lawmakers were when we presented clear, unified concerns. They told us repeatedly: showing up matters. And I know when we show up with policy priorities that match other associations’, it’ll matter even more. Because fragmented messages confuse, but a single voice commands attention.
At our markets, I hear these same struggles discussed at the summit: land competition, the death tax and the sheer capital it takes to start ranching. One customer, after learning about LMA’s advocacy through the Summit, drove a long distance to sell with us because he saw we were fighting for him. That’s the ripple effect of unity. LMA isn’t just about markets; it’s about sustaining the cow-calf producers who are the backbone of our industry. Without them, we’re all out of business.
To my fellow producers: get involved. Sign up, join the coalition and share your voice. This isn’t about politics or bureaucracy—it’s about preserving our way of life. Most of you already belong to a cattle organization because you believe in this industry. Now, imagine the impact if we all align behind a common goal. The summit showed what’s possible when we work together. Let’s keep that momentum going, put teeth into these policies and prove that the cattle industry can stand as one.
Our rural communities, our food independence and our legacy depend on it. Let’s not just talk about change—let’s make it happen together. —Todd Eberle, Burwell, NE
(Todd Eberle is a partner and general manager of Burwell Livestock Market and Broken Bow Livestock. He also serves on the LMA board of directors.)
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