President Trump on Friday signed executive actions to support U.S. ranchers by
curbing the market power of large meatpackers and advancing new beef-labeling
rules. The package includes programs to help ranchers sell directly to consumers
and steps intended to reduce the industry's reliance on the 'Big Four'
processors. It also requires country-of-origin labeling on all imported beef and
asks Congress to move toward permanent legislation. The measures follow rancher
backlash to an earlier administration plan to raise beef imports to lower
consumer prices; U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins called that import
plan a "heavy blow" to ranchers while saying Trump supports producers.
