The Trump administration is offering financial support to smaller meatpackers struggling with escalating beef prices due to a shortage of cattle supplies and the reemergence of New World Screwworm.

On Tuesday, the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated up to $500 million in payments to small- and medium-sized meatpacking firms.

The payments, funded under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and administered by the Farm Service Agency, aim to help eligible beef processors offset higher cattle acquisition costs resulting from historically low U.S. cattle supplies.

Eligible processors will receive application details from the USDA.