USDA unveils plan to support American ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and three other federal agencies on Wednesday announced a coordinated plan to bolster the American beef industry, aiming to reverse a long-term decline in family-owned ranches and stabilize meat prices for consumers.

The initiative, introduced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, together with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, seeks to position ranching as a key component of national security and public health policy.

Since 2017, the U.S. has lost more than 17% of family farms, with over 100,000 operations closing over the past decade. The national cattle herd is now at a 75-year low, even as beef demand has risen 9% in the same period. To address these trends, the USDA plans to expedite deregulation, expand domestic processing capacity, and increase the use of locally raised beef in institutional programs such as school meals.

“America’s food supply chain is a national security priority for the Trump Administration,” Rollins said. “We are protecting our beef industry and incentivizing new ranchers to take up the noble vocation of ranching.”

The Interior Department will move to restore grazing access on public lands, while HHS will review federal dietary guidelines to remove what officials called “outdated stigmas” against natural saturated fats found in beef and dairy.

SBA Administrator Loeffler said the agency would support producers through government-guaranteed loans and regulatory relief to strengthen rural small businesses.

The joint plan reflects the administration’s broader effort to link agricultural production, health policy, and economic resilience. Officials described the strategy as both a food security and national security measure.

The full plan is available on the USDA website.