On Aug. 21, President Donald Trump announced in a social media post that he will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with “no out-of-quota tariff.”
He shared in the same post that the deal will reduce prices for Americans while providing space for the American beef herd to grow again.
In response, ranchers and various farm organizations shared their comments and concerns about the announcement.
“Farmers and ranchers are extremely disappointed to learn that President Trump plans to flood the American market with hundreds of millions of pounds of foreign-raised beef,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “The U.S. is already importing beef at record levels. This decision would be an unprecedented move, and would translate to nearly an additional 60% increase over the next 90 days.”
Randy Schmitt of Rugby, N.D., president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, also issued a statement.
“The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association is deeply disappointed by the president’s statement on Truth Social today,” he said. “North Dakota cattle producers understand the importance of affordable food for American families, but using government-subsidized, below-market foreign beef to influence prices is not a realistic solution, and [it] undermines the very producers working to rebuild the nation’s cattle herd and who put high-quality beef on families’ tables.”
Schmitt, a cow-calf producer, continued: “We urge the president and policymakers to focus on solutions that strengthen America’s cattle industry; support producers; and provide consumers with a reliable, affordable food supply for the long term, not knee-jerk measures that jeopardize the future of cattle production.”
Others weigh in
Doug Sombke, president of the South Dakota Farmer’s Union also expressed his concerns.
“This is not only bad for South Dakota’s cattle producers, but honestly, I am concerned for consumers, because with imported beef, we do not know that it has been raised to the same safety standards as American farmers and ranchers follow,” Sombke said.
SDFU has been advocating for mandatory country of origin labeling since it was repealed in 2015.
Sombke continued: “Labeling lets consumers know where the beef they purchase to feed their families comes from. If the president is going to let foreign beef flood the market, at least make sure consumers know where it comes from so they can have the choice to purchase U.S. beef.”
Farther south, Garrett Hawkins, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau said: “Cattle producers are rightfully frustrated by today’s announcement that President Trump plans to increase foreign beef imports and sell that beef below the cost of production. Americans, including farm families, are paying more for fuel, electricity, housing and nearly everything else. We understand the desire to provide relief to American families facing high grocery costs, but additional market intervention in the cattle market is the wrong approach.”
Through drought, high input costs and historic lows for cattle numbers, producers have experienced much-needed stability through strong cattle prices.
“Importantly, this proposal does not solve the underlying causes of high food prices and unfairly places the blame on American farmers and ranchers,” Hawkins said. “We strongly urge the administration to reverse this decision and support American cattle producers.”
North Dakota Farm Bureau President Val Wagner, a farmer and rancher from Monago, N.D., issued a statement online.
“North Dakota Farm Bureau is extremely disappointed with President Trump’s plan to flood the American market with over 661 million pounds of foreign-raised beef,” Wagner wrote. “The U.S. is already importing beef at record levels, and this decision would be an unprecedented move, translating to nearly an additional 60% increase in imports in the next 90 days.
“North Dakota’s cattle producers have been working to rebuild their herds through several years of drought, harsh conditions and an ongoing input-price crisis,” she continued. “This measure will accomplish nothing but to undercut a fragile recovery for producers and threaten the long-term supply of American-raised beef. Growing dependence on foreign-grown food could ultimately lead to higher grocery costs and greater reliance on other nations for our food security. The president must reverse course and focus on policies that support North Dakota and American cattle producers as they work to feed Americans and expand the herd for future generations.”
So, what does this mean for the American rancher? Only time will tell what ripple effects may result.