Congressman Gabe Evans Introduces More Beef, Lower Prices Act to Rebuild America’s Cattle Herd

October 7, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Gabe Evans introduced the More Beef, Lower Prices Act to give American cattle producers additional tools to rebuild the domestic herd, strengthen the U.S. beef supply, and address high beef prices for families across Colorado and the nation. America’s cattle herd sits at a historical low. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United States had 86.2 million cattle and calves as of January 1, 2026 - the lowest supply in 75 years. This decline does not just endanger our nation’s food security, but a low cattle supply makes American producers vulnerable to volatile markets. Our beef producers need more options, not constraint. The More Beef, Lower Prices Act will amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expressly include bred cattle, replacement heifers, and cull cattle in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) programs beginning in crop year 2027. Expanding these widely-utilized risk-management tools will deliver certainty to producers as they plan the long-term investments necessary to maintain and rebuild America’s domestic cattle herd. “Colorado ranchers raise the highest-quality beef in the world, but rebuilding a cattle herd takes years, significant investment, and a willingness to take on tremendous risk. I’ve heard directly from producers across Colorado’s Eighth District that they need better tools to lower risks on those important investments. That’s exactly why I introduced the More Beef, Lower Prices Act. Instead of becoming dependent on foreign beef, we should be giving American ranchers better tools to raise more cattle right here at home. This bill grows the domestic supply of high-quality American beef, strengthening America’s food security, stabilizing food costs, and supporting our rural communities.” –– Congressman Gabe Evans The legislation is supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. BACKGROUND: Livestock producers operate in a market where rebuilding a herd requires significant upfront investment and years of planning. Replacement heifers and other breeding cattle are particularly important to expanding future cattle supplies because producers must retain and invest in animals today before additional calves can reach the market. Federal livestock insurance programs provide producers with tools to protect against unexpected declines in market prices. USDA’s LRP program is one such tool, widely utilized by livestock producers to protect against risks. The Trump Administration has also recognized the importance of expanding risk-management tools to help rebuild America’s cattle herd. In August, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced USDA’s Ranchers First Initiative , which includes a new Beef Retention and National Development (BRAND) endorsement for LRP. The new tool is designed to help producers manage the financial risk of retaining heifers for breeding rather than sending them to market, supporting efforts to rebuild the domestic herd. The More Beef, Lower Prices Act builds on this same principle by strengthening federal livestock risk-management policy and requiring bred cattle, replacement heifers, and cull cattle to be included under the Federal Crop Insurance Act’s livestock pilot program beginning with crop year 2027. By expanding access to risk-management protections, the legislation is designed to give cattle producers greater confidence to invest in their operations and support rebuilding the domestic herd. The legislation would: Support American cattle producers by expanding federal livestock risk-management protections to bred cattle, replacement heifers, and cull cattle. Help rebuild the U.S. domestic cattle supply by providing producers with additional tools to manage the financial risks associated with cattle production. Support long-term affordability for consumers by addressing supply constraints through increased domestic production rather than greater reliance on foreign beef. Issues : Agriculture and Production