Regulatory policy
The trend toward fewer and larger enterprises has brought environmental issues to the forefront of public policy regarding the U.S. livestock industry. As animal density (number of animals per unit of land area) increases, so do concerns regarding air and water quality, occupational health, and waste management. The Environmental Protection Agency posts information about the environmental requirements for the production of livestock in animal feeding operations.

Cattle are also affected by other government policies and programs related to animal health, food safety, mandatory price reporting, and country-of-origin labeling.

Government assistance programs
Federal Government assistance to the cattle sector is limited to emergency measures approved for a specific scope and period of time to address the needs of producers suffering losses due to drought, hot weather, disease, insect infestation, flood, fire, hurricane, earthquake, severe storms, or other natural disasters.

The Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 provides assistance to producers who have suffered losses due to weather-related disasters or other emergency conditions. The Livestock Compensation Program provides immediate assistance to eligible owners and cash lessees of certain classes of beef cattle, dairy cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats for damages and losses due to any natural disaster, while the Livestock Assistance Program reimburses producers for grazing losses. Even though both programs may provide assistance for the same loss, producers cannot receive payments under both programs.

USDA has other disaster-related programs in place that may affect cattle producers. These include the Emergency Haying and Grazing and Non-fat Dry Milk Livestock Feed Assistance programs.

for more information, contact: Ronald Gustafson
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: July 7, 2004