USDA's Ranchers First Plan: Can Policy Fix a 75-Year Cattle Low?
The US cattle herd just hit its smallest size since 1951. USDA's new plan bets on insurance, loans, and buying power to rebuild it.
America's cattle herd just shrank to its smallest size in 75 years. As of January 1, 2026, the total inventory of cattle and calves stood at 86.2 million head — the lowest count since 1951. Zoom i...









