Agriculture groups across the country are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s recent comments suggesting the U.S. could lower beef prices by importing more beef from Argentina. From national associations to state organizations, producers say the move would destabilize already strained cattle markets and threaten the livelihood of American ranchers.
U.S. Cattlemen’s Association: Markets Are Already Correcting
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) says government interference in the beef market isn’t the answer. President Justin Tupper noted that even the President’s remarks triggered an immediate market reaction, with cattle futures dropping sharply.
Tupper said the industry is already correcting naturally after years of pressure and warned that expanded imports would only benefit foreign suppliers and multinational packers. “We support affordable food prices for families,” he said, “but manipulating markets undermines rural America and the foundation of our industry.” USCA urged the administration to instead focus on transparency and fair markets that reward U.S. producers.
NCBA: Plan Creates Chaos and Risks Animal Health
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) said importing more Argentine beef would “create chaos” during a critical time for cattle producers. CEO Colin Woodall pointed to Argentina’s unbalanced trade relationship with the U.S. and its past issues with foot-and-mouth disease.
“Rewarding Argentina with more access harms American cattlemen and women,” Woodall said. “This plan does nothing to lower grocery prices and puts the health of U.S. livestock at risk.” NCBA emphasized that demand for high-quality U.S. beef remains strong and that letting markets operate freely will best serve both producers and consumers.
R-CALF USA: Imports Won’t Fix Structural Market Failures
R-CALF USA called the President’s plan “misguided,” saying decades of unchecked imports and industry consolidation are what drove beef prices higher while cattle prices lagged. CEO Bill Bullard argued that additional imports would reduce demand for domestic cattle without lowering retail beef prices because imported product isn’t required to be labeled by country of origin.
“The President should require mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (MCOOL) so consumers can choose U.S. beef,” Bullard said. He added that Trump should focus on restoring competition and investigating alleged price fixing by major packers instead of expanding imports that further erode U.S. market share.
American Farm Bureau Federation: Caution Urged on Market Instability
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall urged restraint, saying the administration must recognize that farmers and ranchers are already facing an “economic storm.” Herd numbers are at historic lows due to drought and prolonged low prices, he said, and expanding imports could discourage producers from rebuilding.
“Just the mention of beef imports has created more instability,” Duvall said. “Flooding markets with foreign beef could jeopardize America’s long-term food independence.”
Montana Stockgrowers Association: Protect Market Integrity
The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) echoed those concerns, warning that government intervention in pricing threatens the health of the U.S. beef supply chain. MSGA President Lesley Robinson said expanding imports from Argentina—“a country with a history of animal health and traceability challenges”—would destabilize an already volatile market.
“Cattle producers know how to raise the highest-quality beef in the world,” Robinson said. “The administration should prioritize American ranching families and let market forces determine value.”
Montana Farmers Union: Enforce Fair Competition and COOL
Montana Farmers Union (MFU) President Walter Schweitzer was blunt in his criticism, saying the U.S. needs market transparency and antitrust enforcement, not more imports. Schweitzer noted that the U.S. cattle herd is at its smallest in decades, while packers and retailers control about 85% of the market.
“Expanding beef imports benefits multinational packers at the expense of ranching families,” he said. MFU continues to push Congress to reinstate mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling, ensuring consumers know where their beef comes from.
Across the board, cattle groups agree: boosting imports from Argentina won’t fix the beef price issue—it will only deepen the divide between producers and packers while weakening America’s cattle industry.
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USCA, NCBA, R CALF, AFBF, MSGA, MFU, Northern Ag Network – 2025
