President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Friday aimed at boosting the nation’s ranchers, including a landmark directive that allows them to process their own meat and sell it directly to consumers across state lines.
Flanked by ranchers and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Trump signed the orders during a ceremony at the White House. The second order directs a federal review of regulations affecting ranchers, including the status of Mexican gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act.
Processing Overhaul
“Today, I’m thrilled to announce that my administration is taking historic action to help our nation’s great cattle ranchers and deliver American meat processed to the highest standard … there will be no standard higher in the world, and sold at the lowest prices directly to the consumer,” Trump said.
“So for the first time ever, we’re going to give farmers and ranchers the right to process their own food. That’s a big announcement,” he added.
The president said his administration will establish a program permitting ranchers to bypass the four major companies he described as holding “a monopoly” on meat processing. He assured that “very strong safety inspections” would be conducted on meat produced under the new rules.
According to the White House, the executive order directs Secretary Rollins to take a series of actions within the Department of Agriculture to implement the new framework.
Wolves and Regulations
The second executive order directs a comprehensive review and modernization of all federal agency regulations and policies related to ranchers’ interests. That review includes an assessment of whether Mexican gray wolves should be delisted or downlisted as an endangered species.
The wolf provision has been a long-standing priority for ranchers in the West, who argue that wolf reintroduction has led to livestock losses and have pushed for more flexibility in managing the predators.
Rollins, who appeared alongside Trump at the signing, has been a vocal supporter of reducing regulatory burdens on agricultural producers.
The orders are part of a broader administration push to reshape the meat processing industry, which has faced criticism over consolidation and supply chain vulnerabilities. Under the new program, ranchers would be able to sell meat directly to consumers across state lines without relying on the large processors that have dominated the market.
Administration officials say the move is designed to increase competition, lower prices for consumers, and give ranchers a greater share of the retail dollar.
Critics of the executive order are likely to raise food safety concerns, though Trump emphasized that inspections would remain robust. The Department of Agriculture has not yet released detailed implementation timelines or regulatory guidance.
The orders come as the administration continues to focus on rural economic issues ahead of the upcoming elections. Ranchers and agricultural groups have largely welcomed the move, while some livestock industry representatives have expressed cautious optimism pending the details.
The executive actions mark a significant shift in federal policy, potentially allowing small-scale producers to engage in interstate commerce in ways previously restricted by federal inspection requirements.
According to the White House, further guidance on the program will be forthcoming from the USDA in the coming weeks.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/04/trump-signs-order-allowing-ranchers-to-process-their-own-meat-sell-it-across-state-lines/