WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on the Trump administration to proceed carefully with its plans to reduce beef prices through increased imports from Argentina, warning that such a move could hurt struggling U.S. cattle producers.
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said that while families are facing challenges with higher food prices, farmers are also enduring an “economic storm.” He noted that many U.S. cattle producers have operated at a loss for years, with low prices and adverse weather pushing herd numbers to historic lows.
“We urge the administration to carefully consider the damage importing more beef and cattle from other countries will have as cattle farmers decide whether to invest in rebuilding America’s herds,” Duvall said. “Flooding markets with foreign-grown beef could affect our nation’s ability to be food independent in the long term.”
The organization emphasized that even the mention of expanded imports has added uncertainty to an already unstable market. Duvall said the Farm Bureau looks forward to learning more about the administration’s plan and stands ready to work with federal leaders “to ensure farmers and ranchers can survive this economic storm.”