USDA has announced a package of actions aimed at rebuilding the American beef herd, collectively known as the Ranchers First Initiative. The actions include the new Beef Retention and National Development (BRAND) endorsement for Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) that will allow producers to insure the economic value of retaining a heifer for breeding over a two-year period. In addition, USDA will allow producers to use the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) on Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to speed recovery after wildfires and other natural disasters. USDA is creating a SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program to help support regional processing, including establishing processor co-ops, expanding small business footprints, and increasing the variety of animal proteins being processed. USDA also announced that it will be establishing an initiative focused on Beginning and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Affairs.
