The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the Ranchers First Initiative to rebuild the Great American Beef Herd and strengthen American ranchers’ role in the food supply as drought and wildfires leave the cattle herd at a 75-year low and beef prices at records. The package includes the Beef Retention and National Development endorsement for Livestock Risk Protection, allowing producers to insure the economic value of retaining heifers for breeding over two years; access to conserved grassland for disaster recovery; and a SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program for regional processors, including cooperatives and expanded small businesses. USDA also plans regional processor continuity measures and federal procurement of locally processed beef. The initiative follows President Donald Trump’s pledge to help ranchers process cattle and his signed order expanding lower-tariff beef imports.