For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: NSAC Welcomes Attention on Local Processors and Farmer Protection, Concrete Action Needed

Washington, DC, Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 – On Friday, September 4, the Trump Administration released two Executive Orders (EOs): the Promoting Fair Competition in Livestock Markets and Expanding Market Access for American Producers and Supporting America’s Ranchers. The announcement follows the unveiling of the Strengthening Processing for US Ranchers grants and loans within the Ranchers First Initiative. 

The new EOs outline a host of potential interventions in the cattle and meat production and processing markets across three federal agencies: the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Interior (DOI). The potential interventions that may benefit small and diversified meat and poultry farmers and ranchers with proper implementation are: Robust Enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act and Expanding Interstate Markets for Eligible Meat Products.

“Increasing small and very small meat processors’ access to broader markets and resources by investing in the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Program, field-based technical assistance, and a coordinating position at USDA-FSIS are potential steps in the right direction. As always, program implementation is where the rubber meets the road. USDA should prioritize input from field-based stakeholders as they implement these EOs and understand that for many farmers, their processing issues don’t end with cattle. Continued investment and technical resources are more important than deregulation to solve the issue of meat industry consolidation,” said Connor Kippe, Food Systems Integrity Policy Specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).

“Robust investment in the Packers and Stockyards Administration is critical to protecting farmers and ranchers. While the EO signals the potential for stronger Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) enforcement, this announcement stands in direct conflict with prior actions this Administration has taken to weaken PSA enforcement, including planned rescissions of several PSA rules promulgated during the previous Administration. Until USDA takes substantive steps to address the anti-competitive landscape currently harming farmers and ranchers, these announcements will continue to ring hollow,” said Duncan Orlander, NSAC Fair Competition Policy Specialist.

NSAC looks forward to continued engagement with this Administration on how best to continue to support small and very small processors, and the farmers and consumers they serve.

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net