HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Urges US Ranchers to Boost Beef Production

Kennedy made the plea at the annual CattleCon conference in Nashville.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 10:31pm

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called on American ranchers to increase the size of their cattle herds during a speech at the CattleCon conference in Nashville, Tennessee on February 5th.

Why it matters

The Biden administration has faced pressure from some groups to reduce beef consumption due to environmental concerns, but Kennedy's remarks suggest the administration may be shifting its stance to support increased domestic beef production.

The details

In his speech, Kennedy directly appealed to ranchers, saying "I'm begging you to increase the size of the herds." The remarks come as the administration has faced criticism from some environmental groups for not doing enough to curb the beef industry's carbon footprint.

  • Kennedy made the remarks during a speech at the CattleCon conference in Nashville, Tennessee on February 5, 2026.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, appointed by President Biden in 2021.

CattleCon

An annual conference for the cattle ranching industry held in Nashville, Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“I'm begging you to increase the size of the herds,”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

What’s next

It remains to be seen if the Biden administration will take further steps to support increased domestic beef production in response to Kennedy's remarks.

The takeaway

Kennedy's plea to ranchers to boost beef production signals a potential shift in the administration's stance on the beef industry, which has faced pressure to reduce its environmental impact.