By Julie Tomascik
Editor

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Sept. 4 that address meat processing, competition, livestock predators and country-of-origin labeling.

One order directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase resources, staffing and investigative capacity within its Packers and Stockyards division and other agency offices.

USDA also must prioritize and expand investigations into potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act. Those include unfair or deceptive practices, price manipulation and practices that restrain commerce.

The agency is directed to coordinate with the Department of Justice on potential antitrust enforcement and submit a report within 60 days detailing current enforcement actions, resource needs and plans for the coming year.

The order also focuses on expanding interstate market access for meat products.

“We’re creating a program where small and medium-sized and large ranchers can sell their products directly to consumers so that they don’t have to go through the big four processors and middlemen,” Trump said during the White House event.

USDA must streamline processes to increase state participation in the State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program and Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program.

The agency also is directed to develop technical assistance and training programs for small and very small meat processors. Other provisions call for modernizing meat inspection, improving processing efficiency and reviewing reporting requirements that USDA determines do not advance food safety needs.

“We appreciate the president’s support for small processors by exploring new opportunities and expanded inspection access,” American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall said. “Creating competition benefits both ranchers and consumers.”

Under the executive order, USDA is directed to establish a guaranteed loan program through the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers Program for small and regional beef processors.

A second executive order directs several federal agencies to review regulations, guidance and policies affecting ranchers and provide recommendations within 90 days.

It also addresses mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef.

USDA, in consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative, must review existing legal authorities that could allow mandatory country-of-origin labeling and conduct an economic analysis of its potential impacts. Following that review, USDA may pursue regulations if permitted under current law or develop legislative recommendations.

Mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef and pork were repealed by Congress in 2015 after the World Trade Organization ruled against the U.S. requirements and authorized Canada and Mexico to impose retaliatory tariffs.

Farm Bureau policy supports voluntary country-of-origin labeling that meets World Trade Organization requirements, Duvall noted.

The executive order also directs the Department of the Interior to determine within 90 days whether gray wolves and Mexican wolves have met recovery criteria for delisting or downlisting under the Endangered Species Act. USDA and Interior are directed to consider changes to livestock depredation compensation programs.

The actions follow an Aug. 26 proclamation that temporarily increased the tariff-rate quota for imported lean beef trimmings by 300,000 metric tons, or more than 660 million pounds.

Duvall, who attended the Sept. 4 signing at the White House, said he spoke with Trump afterward about Farm Bureau’s concerns with the additional imports.

“I shared with him that we have witnessed significant price drops for cattle across the country,” Duvall said. “It has caused a setback to rebuilding the U.S. herd.”

Duvall said Farm Bureau will continue urging the administration to reverse the decision to increase imports.