USDA Unveils Plan to Strengthen the American Beef Industry
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has released a comprehensive plan to “strengthen the American beef industry, reinforcing and prioritizing the American ranchers’ critical role in the national security of the United States.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) emphasized that this new initiative is designed to stabilize markets, reduce volatility for ranchers, and make beef more affordable for consumers.
The plan consists of three main components:
- Protecting and Improving the Business of Ranching
- Expanding Processing, Consumer Transparency, and Market Access
- Building Demand alongside Domestic Supply
Key Goals of the USDA Beef Strengthening Plan
The USDA’s strategy aims to make the U.S. beef market more resilient, competitive, and transparent. Major initiatives include:
- Increasing grazing access and reforming endangered species regulations to reduce burdens on ranchers.
- Enhancing disaster relief programs to protect livestock operations from natural and market shocks.
- Expanding access to capital and reducing costs for new and young ranchers entering the industry.
- Lowering inspection costs by up to 75% for small meat processors.
- Boosting the accuracy and visibility of “Product of USA” labeling to strengthen consumer confidence.
- Increasing the domestic cattle herd to stabilize beef supply.
- Lowering beef prices for consumers while sustaining rancher profitability.
- Supporting farm-to-school grants and updating protein-focused dietary guidelines to expand domestic demand for U.S. beef.
Brooke Rollins: Food Supply Chain as National Security
Secretary Rollins stated, “America’s food supply chain is a national security priority for the Trump Administration. We are committed to ensuring the American people have an affordable source of protein and that America’s ranchers have a strong economic environment where they can continue to operate for generations to come. At USDA we are protecting our beef industry and incentivizing new ranchers to take up the noble vocation of ranching.”
She added that the department will “immediately expedite deregulatory reforms, boost processing capacity, including getting more locally raised beef into schools, and [work] across the government to fix longstanding common-sense barriers for ranchers like outdated grazing restrictions.”
Interagency Collaboration for a Stronger Beef Sector
This initiative was launched in partnership with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler. The coordinated approach highlights the administration’s commitment to building a more secure, self-sufficient, and sustainable U.S. beef industry.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.