S. 4168 — Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2026

This section directs the Administrator of the Economic Research Service, not later than one year after each Census of Agriculture is made publicly available, to publish a report on consolidation and concentration in the livestock industry (i.e., beef, dairy, pork, and poultry production including broilers, eggs, and turkeys). The report must cover (1) changes in the size and location of ranches, farms, processing facilities, and packers throughout the United States; and (2) impacts on farmers, ranchers, and downstream consumers including financial effects, market entry, access to resources and inputs such as processing facilities, and dietary impacts. The report must separate beef cattle information by cow-calf and fed cattle operations; draw on specified USDA data sources including the Census of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service inspection records, and Packers and Stockyards Division packing plant data; and exclude confidential business information.