The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping up efforts to bring more competition, fairness and transparency to livestock markets, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said last week in a White House press conference with National Economic Council Director Brian Deese.

Farmers have been squeezed as livestock markets become more concentrated, said Vilsack. The four large meat-packing companies control over 80% of the beef market, and they are seeing record or near-record profits in the first half of this year, Deese pointed out.

“Goal number one is to make...