The Dirt

Agriculture news is not just headlines. It is personal.

Prices fluctuate, policies shift and big announcements rarely include instructions; sometimes, the people making decisions seem miles away from those living with them.

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Trump Signs Orders on Rancher Support & Beef Markets

The beef industry has a few more items on its list. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on September 4 addressing predator management, beef labeling, livestock markets, and meat processing, according to the United States Department of Agriculture( USDA).

The orders direct federal agencies to review predator management policies, including compensation for predatorrelated livestock losses. USDA will also review its authority over mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and make recommendations for potential changes.

Market competition and processing are also getting attention. USDA is directed to prioritize potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act, while expanding programs that help small and very small processors access interstate markets and providing additional technical assistance.

Meanwhile, USDA announced nearly one million acres of new Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program enrollment, along with plans to expand remote beef grading and instrument-enhanced grading. The department said the programs are intended to support grazing operations and improve access to meat processing and grading services.

The latest moves add to the growing list of actions under the Ranchers First Initiative, which also includes expanded risk management tools, regional processing loans, support for beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers, and efforts to increase beef processing capacity.

USDA Plans Changes to Agricultural Data Collection

USDA is looking to make agricultural data collection a little less cumbersome, with a new modernization plan focused on reducing reporting burdens and improving the timeliness and accuracy of its data. The plan, announced September 1, targets reporting, acreage and yield estimates, data and technology systems, and transparency with producers.

Proposed changes include more use of administrative data, improved mobile survey access, and prefilled information to cut down on duplicate requests. USDA also plans to test satellite imagery, geospatial tools, and crop models alongside producerreported information and evaluate artificial intelligence and machine learning as part of broader technology upgrades.

For producers, USDA plans to provide more information about why data is collected and how it is used, along with more opportunities for feedback. Implementation began immediately as the department works with producers and agricultural stakeholders to develop the changes.

Honorable Mentions

( What we didn’ t have room for on the porch railing)

• USDA launches Harvest to Hallways with up to $ 70M for school kitchens and $ 25M in new Farm to School Grants

• USDA NASS launches AgInsights, a web-based tool that combines agricultural data, charts, and maps in an interactive interface

• USDA ends Dairy Checkoff funding for ESG-related projects and directs research and promotion funds toward the program ' s statutory purpose

• USDA approves New Mexico’ s State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, expanding inspection capacity for small and very small processors

• USDA awards $ 26.5 million through its VAPG program to support 194 agricultural projects, including 80 beef producer projects

36 | 800-247-2000 | 515-955-1600 | October 2026