Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2026

This bill would require the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service to publish a report on consolidation and concentration within the beef, dairy, pork, and poultry industries. The report would analyze changes in the size and location of farms, ranches, and processing facilities, as well as how these shifts affect producers and consumers. This research would be updated every five years following the public release of the Census of Agriculture.

This bill affects the Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service and National Agricultural Statistics Service, which are tasked with data collection and reporting. The legislation also impacts participants in the livestock industry, specifically those involved in beef, dairy, pork, and poultry production. Additionally, the bill focuses on the impacts of industry consolidation on farmers, ranchers, processing facilities, packers, and downstream consumers.

• Mandatory livestock industry consolidation report. The Economic Research Service (ERS) must publish a report detailing consolidation and concentration within the beef, dairy, pork, and poultry production industries.
• Reporting timeline linked to Census of Agriculture. The ERS is required to release its findings within one year of the public release of the Census of Agriculture, which is conducted every five years by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
• Analysis of industry structural changes. The report must document changes in the size and geographic location of ranches, farms, processing facilities, and packers across the United States.
• Assessment of socioeconomic impacts. The study must evaluate how industry concentration affects farmers, ranchers, and downstream consumers.

The bill requires the Economic Research Service to publish its report within one year of the Census of Agriculture being made publicly available.

The bill links new reporting requirements to the existing Census of Agriculture, a recurring study conducted every five years by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The bill aims to analyze the livestock industry by requiring the USDA to report on trends in market consolidation and concentration across beef, dairy, pork, and poultry production. The report is intended to evaluate how changes in the size and location of agricultural operations and processing facilities affect farmers, ranchers, and consumers.