Over the last several months, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made a dizzying array of announcements about the livestock and meat processing industry.  Starting in late July with the announcement of the Strengthening Processing for US Ranchers grant program through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), all the way through to September 4th, when Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and President Donald Trump announced a host of government interventions to support the Great American Beef Herd through the Rancher First Initiative. USDA has also superficially rebranded existing programs, such as the Value Added Producer Grant program, in an attempt to appear particularly supportive of the domestic beef herd. These announcements reflect a sudden push by the Administration, raising questions about the underlying motivations and the factors driving this shift in policy

In late August 2026, the President eased tariffs on imported beef, which the Administration marketed as an attempt to lower the retail price of beef for consumers and protect the “Great American Beef Herd.” The interests of international meat processors, such as JBS, may have also been a factor in the decision. No matter the reason, negative reactions to the announcement from domestic ranchers were swift and sustained. Consequently, as the Administration tries to navigate its promises on affordability to consumers and farmers, the announcements in September and beyond were likely intended to soften the negative reactions. 

These interventions span from grant programs to regulatory reviews, and across numerous agencies within USDA. While the Rancher First Initiative and other meat processing announcements have many components, this blog post focuses on five key components: the SPUR Grant and Guaranteed Loan programs, the commitment to prioritize American beef in procurement, investments in market access for meat processors, coordination around small and very small processors, and review of regulations concerning meat processing. 

The Importance of Meat Processing Reforms  

NSAC believes in the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agricultural production, including beef production. This belief has materialized into decades of advocacy for a local, regional meat processing supply chain due to its linkages to greater market opportunities, local food sovereignty, and its creation of economic viability for multi-species or highly rotational grazing. 

Beef production under management-intensive rotational grazing can be an effective part of a larger strategy to improve soil health. Current scientific consensus is more mixed on its ability to increase Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)  in a long-term stable way. Still, most studies currently support that it mitigates other greenhouse gas emissions compared to other methods of beef production. 

An increase in local meat processing can improve the profitability and long-term viability of farmers trying to produce livestock and poultry in more sustainable ways. Shorter supply chains need local processors, which allow for a greater retention of the “food dollar” for farmers. Especially with fee-for-service packers, many farmers are able to more fully capture an overall price premium for the practices they adopt, either by marketing based on their practices or by creating value-added goods.

The ability of farmers and ranchers to reliably access these processing services at a distance and cost that works for them is key to their ability to farm how they want, including in diversification of animals raised.  Greater diversity in animals raised can also support farming that fits local landscapes and communities better and offers more consumer choice than our current system. Consumers are demanding this growth as well, especially in their meat and poultry markets. This diversity is beneficial regardless of your position in the food system as well. Large meat processors also act as monopsony’s to both farmers and workers, with a very large ability to influence local labor markets and to abuse workers without options for employment. 

Funding the expansion of more small- to mid-size processors, and reforming Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) services and regulations to better work with them to achieve food safety goals creates better conditions for consumers, workers, and farmers. 

Meat Processing Context since COVID-19

Many of the programs announced during the last several months are situated within the larger context of meat processing programs that emerged with the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021. Collectively, the programs initiated by ARPA have distributed hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in subsidized loans and grants. These ARPA programs include:

• The Local Meat Capacity Grant 
• Meat and Poultry Plant Expansion Program (Phase 1-4) 
• Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program 
• Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant 
• FSIS Overtime and Holiday Fee Reduction Program
• Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program 

These programs – which were not cattle-specific – were created in part due to the recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic that highly efficient yet consolidated supply chains leave the US vulnerable to supply disruptions. However, the true impact of all of these programs is yet to be studied, in part due to the Trump Administration’s cutting of important follow-up studies and the lack of disclosure of program impacts. Many of the concepts of the more recently announced 2026 programs at least partially borrow from the ARPA initiatives. 

Today, several years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the US beef herd is at a historic 75-year low due to uncertain market expectations during the pandemic, natural herd life cycles, droughts, international competition, and evolving pest pressures, such as screwworm. All of these factors are, to one degree or another, partially addressed by USDA’s response to the historically low beef herd. 

Evaluating the impact of the newly announced programs detailed below is critical, but will not be straightforward. Cattle herd cycles are long – spanning 8-12 years – and the US herd sits currently in the trough, with many years of rebuilding ahead. This makes it difficult to determine whether a future herd upswing is being driven by these programs or reflects a broader, natural trend in herd expansion. The Trump Administration itself admitted this in its August 26th proclamation. 

Overall, the recently announced programs aim to increase domestic supply, though having that as the sole goal isn’t necessarily what USDA should be aiming for. For example, increasing herd sizes does not necessarily improve the economic sustainability of beef production; in fact, smaller domestic herd sizes have correlated with increases in the live cattle hundredweight price when selling in the open market. This higher price could mean higher profit and likely long-term economic sustainability. For many producers who utilize management-intensive grazing practices, total herd size or overstocking for the ecological output can be both counterproductive and potentially costly in the long term. Rather than focusing exclusively on increasing domestic supply, a better goal would be to focus on profitability, long-term viability, and sustainability of beef production in the United States. 

Below are short descriptors of the recently announced 2026 programs. Text in blue denotes details provided straight from Executive Orders, announcements, or other materials. The summaries below are up-to-date as of October 20, 2026.

SPUR Grant Program

Description:  One-time subsidy grant for processors, at $53.05/head of beef slaughtered, based on 2025 throughput numbers. Payments will be made in two 50% chunks.

Timeline: Sept 30th deadline for application (after an extension from Sep 11th). 

Eligible entities: federal, Talmidge Aiken, or Cooperative Interstate Shipment inspected meat processing plants that specifically must slaughter beef.

More information/link(s): 

This grant program will be run through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), due to its funding through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). $500 million has been approved to be utilized for this purpose, and is one of the few times that the CCC has been used for supporting non-farm businesses in the livestock industry. 

SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program

Description: 

The SPUR Guaranteed Loan program will provide federal support to lenders making loans to eligible beef, and perhaps other processors, to expand the number of processors in the US. 

Timeline: TBD 

Eligible entities: Small and regional beef processor facilities ( no details on size, animals processed, etc.)

More information/link(s):

Guaranteed loan programs operate with the government as the guarantor, reducing risk for the actual lending party, generally a regional or agricultural bank in the context of USDA Guaranteed Loans, of which there are several. This allows the lender, who is sometimes required, to provide lower-than-market lending for the specified objective, in this case supporting small and very small processors. This program will potentially provide for lower-than-market-rate lending to a variety of meat processors, specifically focused on beef. 

Language: To support small and regional beef slaughter facilities, USDA is creating a SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program to help support regional processing, including establishing processor co-ops, expanding small business footprints, and increasing the variety of animal proteins being processed.

Procurement

Description: 

USDA will prioritize the federal procurement of local processed beef across institutions. 

Timeline: TBD

Eligible entities: TBD 

More information/link(s):

No further information has been provided on how this “encouraging” will happen – set asides are generally set in statute by Congress, though can be pursued through rulemaking as well. This administration so far has not released what it will consider to be “local” in this context,  whether there will be a size maximum, or setting a percentage goal.  It also does not explain how it will do this in conjunction with its Harvest to Hallways program, or a Local Food Purchasing Agreement-like program. 

Language: 

USDA will prioritize federal procurement of locally processed American beef by encouraging purchasing across federal and state institutions—including prisons, hospitals, and related facilities. By strengthening locally processed domestic sourcing requirements, USDA aims to bolster demand for American‑raised beef, support U.S. ranchers, and reinforce integrity and transparency within federal food purchasing programs.

Market Access and Small Processor Assistance

Description: Charges the USDA and Secretary Rollins with identifying possible opportunities to increase market access. 

Application window: USDA is required to identify possible opportunities by early November 2026. 

Eligible entities: State Departments of Agriculture.

More information/link(s):

In the recently announced Executive Orders and then the follow-up release of  USDA Launches Initiative to Bring More States into Meat Inspection, there have been many mentions of broadening market access for smaller processors. This announced an additional $50m to help provide for start-up costs of initiating a state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI). While the program also mentions the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, it remains unclear why it indicates that the program can also be used to set up and enroll meat processing establishments in the CIS program. 

The provisions of (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) focus on technical assistance for small and very small processors, which is necessary to support their continued viability. This has been a long-noted need, including in the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) co-authored 2020 Small Plant Report. It also already exists in some forms, including the Meat and Poultry Processing  Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA), which includes NSAC members (Niche Meat Processing Assistance Network) and partners (American Association of Meat Processors, Flower Hill Institute). Regional meat summits also provide much of this peer-to-peer education or technical assistance. Both programs are nearing completion of their previously funded money, and could utilize further funding to support their great work. 

Language: 

Sec. 3.  Expanding Interstate Market Access for Eligible Meat Products.  

(a)  The Secretary shall take actions consistent with applicable law to expand opportunities for interstate shipment of meat products, including by:

(i)    accelerating outreach and streamlining processes to increase State participation in the USDA’s State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, and the Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program;

(ii)   creating technical assistance and training programs for small and very small meat processors;

(iii)  establishing, or collaborating with partners to establish, an easily accessible web resource with comprehensive information regarding local meat slaughter and processing availability, including federally inspected establishments that facilitate interstate shipment;

(iv)   modernizing meat inspection to sharpen focus on core food safety, boost processing efficiency and technology, and lower costs to add value for ranchers and consumers;

(v)    removing unnecessary Food Safety Inspection Service inspection reporting requirements and overly prescriptive requirements, consistent with applicable law, that do not advance essential food safety needs; and

(vi)   establishing a coordinator position within USDA to implement these actions and serve as a conduit to ranchers and small and medium-sized processors.

(b)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall submit to the President a report assessing current participation in the State-Federal cooperative inspection programs, identifying remaining statutory or regulatory barriers to greater interstate market access for State-inspected products, and providing recommendations for action to address any such challenges.

(c)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall submit to the President a report identifying Federal statutory provisions, as well as trade considerations, that restrict or prohibit State-inspected or custom exempt meat products from entering interstate commerce.

Regulatory Review and Reform

Description: Charges the USDA and Secretary Rollins with identifying possible opportunities to reduce or reform regulations impacting ranchers and meat processors

Application window: USDA is required to identify possible opportunities to reduce regulations by early November 2026 

Eligible entities: NA 

More information/link(s):

Across the recent announcements (EO 14424, EO 14425) from President Trump and Secretary Rollins, there has been a consistent drumbeat regarding regulations that interfere with small and very small processors and the administrative influence of the big 4 meat processors: JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef Packing Company. 

A review of regulations that do impact small and very small processors could be impactful if USDA focuses on areas such as Overtime Fees for meat inspection that disproportionately cost smaller processors and the producers they serve. 

This change towards funding the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) is appreciated, if unlikely to compensate for the Trump Administration’s rescission of several proposed strengthening of the rules. 

Language: 

EO 14425 

Sec. 2.  Comprehensive Policy and Regulatory Review.  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, the United States Trade Representative, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall submit to the President a report that assesses all executive department and agency (agency) regulations, guidance, and other agency policies affecting ranchers and that provides recommendations for action to promote financial viability and enhanced market access for American ranchers consistent with this order.

EO 14424

Sec. 2.  Robust Enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.  (a)  The Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) shall, consistent with the Act, and all other applicable law:

(i)    prioritize and expand investigations into potential violations of the Act by packers and other covered entities, with particular attention to unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive practices; undue or unreasonable preferences or advantages; and practices that restrain commerce or manipulate prices;

(ii)   increase resources, staffing, and investigative capacity within the Packers and Stockyards Division of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service, the USDA Office of General Counsel, and the USDA Office of Inspector General;

(iii)  coordinate closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ), in keeping with the September 26, 2025, memorandum of understanding between the USDA and the DOJ Antitrust Division, to refer cases for appropriate enforcement and to pursue complementary antitrust actions where appropriate; and

(iv)   within 60 days of the date of this order, submit to the President a report detailing current enforcement actions, resource needs, and a plan for heightened enforcement for the coming year.

(b)  The Secretary shall review existing regulations, guidance, and enforcement policies under the Act and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, revise them to strengthen protections for producers and ensure effective deterrence of prohibited conduct.

Coordinator and Coordination 

Description:  Announcement of a potential value chain coordination opportunity, and of a coordinator at USDA to effectuate many of the other parts of these EOs and USDA announcements. 

Application window: NA

Eligible entities: NA

More information/link(s): The Regional Processor Continuity Effort also has no further details and does not specify what type of program it will be. If this were a technical assistance program such as outlined in the EO 14424, it would be a welcome addition as mentioned above. However, the wording of “to strengthen regional processing capacity and improve business resilience across the agricultural supply chain” could also indicate a meat processor-specific version of a regional business center, which would also be a welcome addition. 

The establishment of a coordinator position would help ensure resources reach small and very small processors appropriately, and that plants have support in implementing scale-appropriate regulation. This position would likely need to be informed by a council of small and very small processors, similar to the recommendations of the National Advisory Council on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) before it was cancelled in early 2025. 

Language: 

Additionally, USDA is establishing a Regional Processor Continuity Effort designed to strengthen regional processing capacity and improve business resilience across the agricultural supply chain. Through this initiative, the Department will provide timely coordination and support to help maintain operational continuity during periods of disruption. A key component of the plan involves actively connecting sellers with prospective domestic buyers, ensuring that regional processors can keep products moving, stabilize local markets, and maintain reliable access points for producers and consumers alike

EO 14424 Sec. 3 

(vi)   establishing a coordinator position within USDA to implement these actions and serve as a conduit to ranchers and small and medium-sized processors.

Analysis

The interventions listed above have not been fully detailed by this Administration, making it impossible to adequately analyze them for potential impacts. The announcements linked throughout this blog post constitute the sum total of information provided, other than in the case of the SPUR program, which has hosted a further webinar. 

Many of these programs function as direct subsidies, not just strategic investments in the sector or as an opportunity for more structural changes to regulations. These investments and regulatory changes are important to continue to change our food and agricultural systems towards more just and sustainable modes of production. 

While NSAC values the nominal recognition of domestic local processors and smaller, diversified farming and ranching operations,  most of the programs named above lack detail, fall well short of the scale needed, and shortsightedly focus only on beef.  Even if they were to be fully implemented – which is in serious doubt – they would fall short of making meaningful strides toward a more sustainable livestock sector.