NCBA Backs DIRECT Act to Expand Local Beef Marketing Opportunities
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has announced its strong support for the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act, a new piece of legislation aimed at expanding marketing opportunities for smaller meat processors and providing consumers with more options to buy local beef.
The bill was introduced by Senators Roger Marshall (Kansas), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi). The proposed legislation would allow state-inspected meat processors to sell limited quantities of beef across state lines, including through online direct-to-consumer sales — a major step toward modernizing the way small producers reach customers.
The DIRECT Act includes provisions to ensure food safety, requiring a paper trail for traceability and containment in the event of any potential food safety issues.
In recent years, direct-to-consumer beef sales have grown significantly as more consumers seek to support local agriculture and enjoy the freshness and transparency of locally sourced meat.
“The cattle business benefits greatly from expanding marketing opportunities, and the DIRECT Act opens the door to the growing number of cattle producers who seek to grow their market across state lines,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “The increased market exposure for those cattlemen and women who are selling beef direct to consumers adds value and provides tremendous benefit for our farmers and ranchers.”
By supporting the DIRECT Act, the NCBA underscores its commitment to helping producers diversify their markets, strengthen rural economies, and meet growing consumer demand for locally raised beef.
If passed, the legislation could be especially impactful for small and mid-sized processors, many of whom have been limited by interstate commerce restrictions despite meeting rigorous state inspection standards that often mirror federal USDA requirements.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.