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Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2026 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Economic Research Service (ERS) to publish a report on consolidation and concentration in the livestock industry (i.e., beef, dairy, pork, and poultry production, including broilers, eggs, and turkeys). ERS must publish the report within one year of the Census of Agriculture being made publicly available. As background, USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the census every five years. NASS released the 2022 census in 2024. The ERS report must include (1) information on changes in the size and location of ranches, farms, processing facilities, and packers throughout the United States; and (2) the impact of these changes on farmers, ranchers, and downstream consumers.
Market Impact Map
Action Timeline
2026-03-24
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
2026-03-24
Introduced in Senate
Full Bill Text
119 S4168 IS: Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2026 U.S. Senate 2026-03-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4168 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 24, 2026 Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Grassley , and Ms. Slotkin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To require the Administrator of the Economic Research Service to conduct research on consolidation and concentration in the livestock industry, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2026 . 2. Livestock consolidation research (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date on which each latest Census of Agriculture is made publicly available, the Administrator of the Economic Research Service shall publish a report on consolidation and concentration in the livestock industry, including— (1) changes in the size and location of ranches, farms, processing facilities, and packers throughout the United States; and (2) the impact of the changes described in paragraph (1) on farmers, ranchers, and downstream consumers, including— (A) financial impacts; (B) market entry impacts; (C) access to resources and inputs, including processing facilities; and (D) dietary impacts. (b) Sources of information In preparing a report under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Economic Research Service shall draw on data available to the Secretary of Agriculture, including the Census of Agriculture, inspection records of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the packing plant data of the Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service. (c) Report organization The report under subsection (a) shall separate information on beef cattle by cow-calf and fed cattle operations. (d) Confidentiality A report published under subsection (a) shall not contain any confidential business information. (e) Definition of livestock In this section, the term livestock includes beef, dairy, pork, and poultry production (including broilers, eggs, and turkeys).
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