President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at strengthening America’s cattle industry and supporting ranchers across the country. During an event in Washington, the administration announced a series of new actions designed to rebuild the nation’s cattle herd, which currently remains at its smallest level since the 1950s. One executive order focuses on predator management.
It directs federal agencies to review the status of gray wolves and Mexican wolves under the Endangered Species Act and update standards for compensating ranchers who lose livestock to predators. The order also seeks to streamline authorization for predator removal when necessary. A second executive order addresses country of origin labeling.
USDA will review options related to mandatory labeling requirements for beef products, giving consumers more information about where their meat originates. The administration is also taking steps to increase competition in livestock markets. USDA will prioritize investigations into potential Packers in Stockyards Act violations, coordinate enforcement efforts with the Department of Justice, and expand opportunities for small and regional meat processors.
Additional USDA announcements include enrolling nearly one million new acres into the Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program, expanding remote and instrument-enhanced beef grading technologies, and continuing programs aimed at supporting beginning and veteran ranchers. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the latest actions build on the USDA Beef Industry Plan and the Ranchers First initiative with the goal of rebuilding the great American cattle herd and creating new opportunities for producers across rural America.
Audio Reporting by Elizabeth Sanders for Southeast AgNet.