USDA announced a new initiative Tuesday that will provide up to $500 million to help small and midsize beef processors remain competitive as historically tight cattle supplies continue to pressure the industry. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the new Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Program will offer temporary payments to eligible U.S.-owned processors to help offset rising cattle acquisition costs while encouraging continued slaughter capacity. The nation's four largest beef processors are not eligible for the program. USDA officials said the initiative is intended to preserve independent processing capacity, improve market opportunities for cattle producers and strengthen competition throughout the beef supply chain. Industry groups welcomed the announcement, saying smaller processors have faced mounting financial pressure as cattle prices reached record highs and supplies remained constrained. The department said eligible facilities will receive payments based on qualifying processing activity and program requirements to be announced in coming weeks.
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