US USDA agricultural and livestock initiatives

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced several initiatives focused on school nutrition and the domestic livestock sector. Under the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda, the ‘Harvest to Hallways’ program was unveiled, allocating up to $95 million toward school kitchen infrastructure and farm-to-school grants to promote nutrient-dense, locally produced foods.

To address a cattle herd at a 75-year low, the USDA launched the ‘Ranchers First’ initiative. This program aims to rebuild the herd and strengthen domestic beef processing through measures such as the Beef Retention and National Development (BRAND) endorsement for insurance, new loan programs, and revitalizing local meat processing. Further regulatory actions include relaxing federal rules for beef processing, requiring country-of-origin labeling for imported beef, and promoting direct sales from producers to consumers.

Expanding on these efforts, President Donald Trump has introduced an executive order triggering a 90-day regulatory review aimed at revitalizing the U.S. livestock industry. This includes programs allowing producers to sell directly to consumers to bypass intermediaries and reduce food costs. While Trump criticized the trade relationship with Mexico, claiming a bilateral exchange results in an annual loss of $195 billion for the U.S., he indicated no intention to sever commercial ties due to his relationship with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. However, the Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA) noted that measures such as potential country-of-origin labeling for beef could significantly impact North American agricultural trade dynamics and the integration of Mexican livestock within the regional supply chain.