Local Beef Marketing Incentive Act of 2026

The Local Beef Marketing Incentive Act of 2026 establishes a subsidy program for farmers and ranchers who sell beef directly to consumers or local businesses without using large-scale distributors. Under this bill, the Secretary of Agriculture would identify "subsidy years" where direct-to-market beef sales drop by 25 percent or more compared to a five-year average. Eligible producers who use local slaughter facilities within their state or 200 miles during these low-sales years could receive payments based on the difference between historical and current cattle prices, with individual payments capped at $500 per head and total annual payments capped at $100,000. The legislation authorizes funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support these payments and requires the creation of rules to verify eligibility and prevent fraud.