Trump Plans to Let Ranchers Sell Beef Directly to Consumers

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will roll out a plan to help farmers and ranchers process their own food and reduce high beef prices by cutting reliance on large meat processors. According to Sina Finance, Trump said on Friday in the Oval Office that he is preparing a plan allowing small, medium, and large ranchers to sell products directly to consumers so they do not have to go through the four major processors and middlemen. He also said he will sign another order authorizing ranchers to protect rural communities and cattle from Mexican gray wolves. Trump said the wolves have caused ranchers tens of millions of dollars in losses and threaten both livestock and human safety. The measures announced on Friday are his latest move to ease elevated food prices. Food costs have frustrated voters, and their assessment of his handling of the economy has been poor ahead of the midterm elections in November, when control of Congress will be decided. Some of his recent measures have also angered farmers and ranchers, a key voting bloc in several swing states. Trump said last month that he would allow up to 300,000 tons of ground beef to enter the United States at a lower tariff rate.