Guest Editorial

In April, small grass-fed beef producers received some great news. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced the creation of a new certification option for smaller, grass-fed beef producers. The Grass-Fed Program for Small and Very Small Producers arose out of the Grass-Fed Marketing Claim Standard within USDA’s Process Verified Program.

Under the new certification process, small farm and ranch operations marketing fewer than 50 head of cattle each year will have the opportunity to label their product as consistent with the USDA grass-fed label claim, but through an easier, less expensiv...