WASHINGTON (DTN) -- A week of USDA actions aimed at rebuilding and retaining the U.S. cattle herd culminated Friday at the White House, where President Donald Trump signed two executive orders directing federal agencies to pursue solutions to concerns raised by ranchers over cattle markets, meat processing and livestock predation.

The orders direct the administration to review the potential for mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, examine protections for gray and Mexican wolves, strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act and ease obstacles for local meat processing.

"For years, I've heard that they (ranchers) have a problem with the big processors ... It's a monopoly, I would say," Trump said during the signing. "We're not going to let it happen any longer."

But the orders do not immediately reinstate long-sought cattle and natural resource reforms. Instead, they direct federal agencies to use existing authorities to develop recommendations for other parties.

"The lasting impact will be decided by the agencies as they do their review and Congress, who can take legislative action to support these moves," said Justin Tupper, president of the U.S. Cattlemen's Association and a rancher from South Dakota.

The orders follow major criticism from cattle producers and farm groups over Trump's recent decision to temporarily increase the tariff-rate quota for 300,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings. The additional quota is available in three 100,000-metric-ton tranches beginning Sept. 1 from Argentina or Brazil, Trump confirmed with reporters on Friday.

The orders were signed Friday afternoon in the Oval Office alongside Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, R-CALF USA President Dave Hyde of Ohio, and ranchers Jim Mundorf, Casey Murph and Amanda Radke and others.

The makeup of the group advising the administration reflects the White House's effort to seek input beyond traditional national cattle organizations. Several ranchers who have advised the administration have been regular participants in events with Rollins and have sizable social media followings.

MCOOL

On mandatory country-of-origin labeling, the order directs USDA to review existing statutory and regulatory authorities that could support mandatory labeling for beef products. USDA also must conduct an economic analysis of the potential effects of MCOOL.

Congress repealed mandatory COOL requirements for beef and pork in 2015, and it's Congress's action alone that can bring back the label. The order does not immediately reinstate MCOOL.

The legislation remains a part of the stalled Senate farm bill debate, held up by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) error rates. It was not included in the House version of the farm bill.

"It's gonna be up to the House," Trump said, recognizing it was a part of the farm bill. "They are working really hard to get it done."

That was the first time the president has spoken publicly about the stalled legislation since his last agriculture order on E15, which also has not passed yet.

The Supreme Court's 2024 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo ended the longstanding framework that allowed agencies to interpret statutes, now forcing legislation like MCOOL out of the executive branch's hands.

PROCESSING BEEF LOCALLY, WITHOUT MONOPOLY

"For the first time ever, we're going to give farmers and ranchers the right to process their own food," Trump said.

Farmers and ranchers already have pathways to process their own meat. The order instead seeks to improve access to processing and interstate markets while maintaining food safety.

See "Trump Wants Farmers, Ranchers to Process Their Own Beef to Challenge Big Four Packers" here:

https://www.dtnpf.com/….

However, the order directs USDA to expand opportunities for meat to move across state lines by accelerating outreach and streamlining participation in three state-federal inspection programs: the State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program and the Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program.

It also directs the creation of technical assistance for "small and very small meat processors" through the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

FSIS is directed to remove unnecessary reporting requirements and overly prescriptive requirements that do not advance essential food safety needs, consistent with applicable law.

Within 60 days, the agency must evaluate current systems and recommend ways to address those barriers.

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: WOLVES

Another provision directs the Interior Secretary within 90 days to determine whether gray wolves and Mexican wolves have met the recovery criteria for delisting or downlisting under the Endangered Species Act.

If the criteria have been met, Interior is directed to begin the delisting or downlisting process. The order also calls for legislative recommendations, state engagement and changes to federal policies governing compensation for livestock losses and authorization of lethal wolf removal.

The order itself does not delist either species.

PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ACT

The executive order also directs USDA to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, increase investigative resources and coordinate with the Justice Department on potential antitrust cases.

USDA must report to the president within 60 days on current enforcement efforts, resource needs and plans for heightened oversight.

The order comes as the administration has delayed implementation of a Biden-era poultry rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The rule prohibits certain payment practices in poultry grower ranking systems, commonly known as tournaments, and establishes requirements for how poultry companies operate those systems.

USDA delayed the rule's effective date from July 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2027, to allow additional consideration of its policy and legal issues.

DTN has reached out to USDA to determine whether the executive order will affect the administration's plans for the delayed poultry rule.

BEEF IMPORTS

Answering questions after the announcement, Trump said beef imports could come from Argentina and Brazil but added that "there could be other countries."

The U.S. already has a short list of other countries eligible to export beef to the United States, like Australia, Uruguay, Canada and Mexico.

Tupper said the U.S. Cattlemen's Association will work constructively with USDA, USTR, Interior and state partners to turn the directives into real-world results.

"We urge Congress to pick up this ball in the Farm Bill and other legislation. Our markets have been shaken by imports, and many producers are cautious on what comes next. We will keep pushing to ensure these initiatives become long-term solutions -- not short-term promises -- for U.S. cattle producers and American consumers."

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he supported the announcement, citing its enforcement provisions under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

"Iowa family farmers are in need of some good news, and today, the Trump administration delivered just that. For years, I've sounded the alarm about anticompetitive practices in the meatpacking industry and the need to support domestic producers' cattle markets. It's good to see President Trump acting on policies that will directly benefit Iowans," Grassley said.

-- See the president's Country-of-Origin Labeling Order here:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/…

-- See the Competition and Marketing Order here:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/…

Jake Zajkowski can be reached at jake.zajkowski@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @jzajkow

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