New Bill Would Help Livestock Haulers

Nov 11, 2019

Recently introduced legislation would give farmers and ranchers more flexibility when transporting live animals and perishable goods. Specifically, the Responsible and Efficient Agriculture Destination (TREAD) Act (H.R. 4919) would allow drivers hauling live animals and agricultural commodities to finish their routes if they are within 150 air miles of their destination.

Building on the current exemption for the beginning of hauls at the “source,” the measure provides a 150 air-mile exemption from hours-of-service regulations on the back end of hauls for agricultural commodities. In addition, the TREAD Act allows this exemption to be utilized year-round, rather than only during planting and harvesting seasons.

“Farmers and ranchers need safe and humane transportation for the animals and goods they raise,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.