Wyoming Cattle Producer Says Unified Voice Key to Livestock Industry’s Future

May 4, 2026

Livestock producers from across the West gathered in Reno this week as the Common Ground Coalition launched a series of regional meetings aimed at identifying key issues facing producers across the country.

Wyoming cattle producer and former Wyoming Stock Growers Association President Jack Berger was among those invited to participate. He says the meeting brought together a strong group of industry leaders focused on solutions.

“I’m just honored to be asked to be here,” Berger said. “It’s quite a group of people they’ve assembled… quite a think tank coming up with ideas.”

Berger says one of the biggest themes is unity within agriculture.

“We need unity in the ag industry,” he said. “We need to speak with a unified voice. We aren’t going to agree on everything, but what we can agree on.”

Topics discussed included risk management, mentorship, labor challenges, and predator issues—especially in the West.

“We have a lot of predators in the West… that sure affects people’s profitability,” Berger said.

Berger says the movement began gaining momentum after Montana cattleman Joe Goggins spoke about unity, profitability, and food security during a previous Wyoming livestock meeting.

“Joe came and kind of sparked this, and it’s been growing ever since,” Berger said. “It all boils down to food security in the end.”

The Common Ground Coalition will continue its regional meetings in Omaha, Nashville, and Fort Worth in the months ahead.

Berger says the effort could help producers better engage policymakers.

“If you go to them with a unified voice, I think you’re going to get a lot more done,” he said.

For more information, visit CommonGroundCoalition.net.

Source: Western Ag Network