S. 4168: Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2026

The Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2026 aims to require the Administrator of the Economic Research Service (ERS) to conduct research on the trends of consolidation and concentration within the livestock industry. Here are the key points of the bill:

Research Requirements

Within one year following the release of the latest Census of Agriculture, the ERS must publish a report that includes:

• Changes in Industry Structure: An analysis of how the size and location of ranches, farms, processing facilities, and packers have evolved across the United States.
• Impact Assessment: Evaluation of how these structural changes affect:
• Farmers and ranchers financially.
• Market entry opportunities for new entrants into the industry.
• Access to important resources and inputs, such as processing facilities.
• Dietary impacts on consumers.

Data Sources

To prepare the report, the ERS is instructed to use data that is available to the Secretary of Agriculture. This includes:

• The Census of Agriculture.
• Inspection records from the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
• Packing plant data from the Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Report Organization

The report must categorize information related to beef cattle separately for cow-calf operations and fed cattle operations.

Confidentiality

Any published report must not include confidential business information to ensure that sensitive details about companies are protected.

Definition of Livestock

Under this bill, "livestock" encompasses various sectors of animal production, including:

• Beef
• Dairy
• Pork
• Poultry (including broilers, eggs, and turkeys)

Relevant Companies

• TSN: Tyson Foods, Inc. - As a major player in the livestock processing sector, changes in livestock consolidation could directly impact their sourcing and processing operations.
• KO: The Coca-Cola Company - While primarily a beverage company, Coca-Cola utilizes livestock products such as dairy in certain products. Changes in the livestock industry could affect input costs.
• ADM: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company - As a major agricultural processing company, adjustments in livestock dynamics may impact their operations and resource management strategies.