Two weeks ago, the House passed a trimmed-down farm bill, but there’s not much excitement around it. After three years of discussions, the House Agriculture Committee decided to slash food assistance programs by $186 billion. They plan to redirect part of this money—$60 billion—toward boosting federal farm subsidies. Critics wonder if there’s waste in these subsidies too, as with everything else in government spending.
When the bill reached the Senate, it was met with a lukewarm response. It’s almost a repeat of previous farm bills, failing to tackle pressing issues like global competition, climate change, and soaring input costs. For example, the cost of farming inputs—like fuel and fertilizers—continues to rise rapidly, and many farmers are struggling.
Interestingly, the Department of Justice (DOJ) just announced an investigation into the top four beef packers—JBS USA, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef Packing. They’re wondering if market concentration has led to higher beef prices, which has been a big concern lately. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “We have a lot of work to do, and we are moving quickly.”
However, the speed of this investigation might not matter much in the long run. Cattle numbers are at a 71-year low. Tyson Foods recently reported it expects to lose between $350 million and $500 million in its beef sector in the year ahead.
What’s notable is a growing trend: smaller meatpacking facilities are popping up. Since 2023, plants with a capacity to process nearly 9,000 cattle daily have opened across the country. From 2021 to 2025, the number of small, federally inspected plants increased from 726 to 937.
While the DOJ looks at these large meatpackers, many people aren’t expecting significant changes. There’s been concern over JBS USA’s ties to corruption, both in the U.S. and Brazil. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins highlighted the issues surrounding JBS, yet despite the problems, Brazilian beef imports soared. In the first quarter of 2026, they exported $795 million worth to the U.S., up 21% from the previous year, further squeezing American ranchers.
This situation puts a spotlight on the complexities of the agriculture industry today. Farmers are facing an uphill battle against rising costs and market monopolization. As the landscape shifts, many are left wondering how these changes will impact the future of American agriculture.
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