The Trump administration is moving to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to process their own meat and sell it directly to consumers, potentially allowing some producers to bypass federally inspected processing facilities.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration was preparing legal documents to give farmers and ranchers the ability to “PROCESS THEIR OWN FOOD,” arguing that large meat processors have created a “nasty Monopoly” that has made it difficult for independent producers.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has indicated that the administration is preparing broader changes to beef-processing regulations, including expanded opportunities for small and regional processors. The USDA has also launched a new initiative to increase domestic processing capacity and provide guaranteed loans to smaller processors and producer cooperatives.

The push comes as four major companies, Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS USA and National Beef Packing Co., control roughly 85% of U.S. beef processing. The administration argues that reducing regulatory barriers could give ranchers more options to market their cattle and reduce their dependence on the largest meatpacking companies.

Under existing federal rules, meat sold across state lines generally must come from federally inspected facilities. A proposal modeled on the PRIME Act could allow states to permit certain producers to sell meat processed under state inspection directly to local consumers, restaurants and retailers.

The administration’s push comes as the U.S. cattle herd sits at a roughly 75-year low and beef prices remain elevated. Trump has also temporarily expanded lower-tariff imports of lean beef trimmings, a move intended to increase supplies while American ranchers rebuild their herds.

Supporters say greater processing freedom could strengthen independent ranchers, while critics have raised concerns about maintaining food-safety standards if federal inspection requirements are reduced.