US ranchers oppose Trump's plan to import more Argentine beef and
experts doubt it will lower prices
[October 22, 2025] By
JOSH FUNK and SARAH RAZA
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — President Donald Trump ’s plan to cut record
beef prices by importing more meat from Argentina is running into heated
opposition from U.S. ranchers who are enjoying some rare profitable
years and skepticism from experts who say the president’s move probably
wouldn’t lead to cheaper prices at grocery stores.
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association along with the
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America and
other farming groups — who are normally some of the president's biggest
supporters — all criticized Trump's idea because of what it could do to
American ranchers and feedlot operators. And agricultural economists say
Argentine beef accounts for such a small slice of beef imports — only
about 2% — that even doubling that wouldn't change prices much.
South Dakota rancher Brett Kenzy said he wants American consumers to
determine whether beef is too expensive, not the government. And so far
there is little sign that consumers are substituting chicken or other
proteins for beef on their shopping lists even though the average price
of a pound of ground beef hit its highest point ever at $6.32 in the
latest report before the government shutdown began.
“I love ‘Make America Great Again’ rhetoric. I love ‘America First’
rhetoric,” he said. “But to me this feels a lot like the failed policies
of the past — the free trade sourcing cheap global goods.”
Several factors have sent beef prices soaring, starting with continued
strong demand combined with the smallest U.S. herd size since 1961. In
part, that small herd is due to years of drought and low cattle prices.
Beef imports also are down overall because of the 50% tariffs that Trump
imposed on Brazil, a big beef exporter, and limits on Mexico, where the
country is fighting a flesh-eating pest.
Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said
Argentina can't produce enough beef to offset those other losses of
imports.
Through July, the United States has imported 72.5 million pounds of
Argentine beef while producing more than 15 billion pounds of beef. Much
of what is imported is lean beef trimmings that meatpackers mix with
fattier beef produced in the United States to produce the varieties of
ground beef that domestic consumers want, so any change in imports would
affect primarily hamburger. Steak prices that were averaging $12.22 per
pound probably wouldn't change much.
Idea creates uncertainty among US ranchers
Even if increased imports from Argentina won't reduce prices, the idea
creates uncertainty for ranchers, making them less likely to invest in
raising more cattle.
“We’re always going to have uncertainty in the world. But the more
uncertain something is, the less likely most are to put money on the
line,” Tonsor said.
Argentine livestock producers like Augusto Wallace are excited about the
prospect of selling more beef to America because he said “whenever an
additional buyer comes, it's beneficial for everyone, right? For all the
producers.”
But economists caution that exporting too much beef could backfire for
Argentina because that would drive up prices for consumers there.
American ranchers say the idea of boosting imports from Argentina runs
counter to the stated purpose of Trump's tariffs to encourage more
domestic production and help American ranchers compete.
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Bryant Kagay holds a tool in the workshop of the farm he co-owns
with his father and grandfather in Amity, Missouri, April 4, 2025.
(AP Photo/Nick Ingram, File)
 “It’s a contradiction of what we
believed his new course of action was. We thought he was on the
right track," said the president of R-CALF, Bill Bullard, who hoped
Trump's policies would discourage imports and encourage ranchers to
expand their herds.
Texas A&M livestock economist David Anderson said “ranchers are
finally getting prices that are going to make up for some really bad
years in the past with the drought, low prices and high costs. We
finally get some good prices. And we start talking about government
policy to bring down prices.”
Bryant Kagay, part owner of Kagay Farms in Amity, Missouri, said he
thinks the plan would hurt ranchers. Cattle prices that had been
averaging around $3,000 for a 1,250-pound animal slipped more than
$100 immediately after Trump mentioned the idea of intervening in
beef prices last week, though they have recovered a bit since then.
Ranchers hope Trump changes his mind
Although Kagay voted for Trump in the last election, he worries the
trade war is hurting farmers and ranchers by driving up costs and
costing them major markets like China.
“I continue to see things that I don’t really think are in the best
interest of our country and the average citizen,” Kagay said. “I
guess I hope he starts to see that and quits worrying about
punishing opponents and winning whatever battle he’s involved in,
and then tries to do what’s best for everybody.”
Ranchers are hopeful Trump will reconsider this plan. Agriculture
Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday on CNBC that the
administration remains committed to helping ranchers prosper while
trying to reduce consumer prices. She promised more details soon
about the Argentina plan and a larger effort to reinvigorate U.S.
beef production by opening up more land and opening new processing
plants while securing trade deals for new markets. The
administration wants ranchers to raise more cattle and produce more
beef.
“The bigger supply — even aligned with a bigger demand — is going to
allow those prices to come down, but also to have a vital industry
for these ranchers to be able to survive, which is what we've got to
do,” Rollins said.
Sen. John Hoeven, a North Dakota Republican, said Tuesday that after
talking to Trump and others in the administration, he expected to
see more details about the policy.
“It’s very important that we support our cattle ranchers,” Hoeven
said.
Rancher Cory Eich, who lives near Epiphany, South Dakota, said he
doesn’t consider the Argentina idea a serious threat in the long
term and doubts ranchers will make changes to their operation in
light of the news.
“Nobody’s happy about it, let’s put it that way,” Eich said.
“Personal opinion, I thought it was kind of a ruse when he mentioned
it. I mean, it’s coming from Trump, so take everything there with a
grain of salt.”
___
Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press videographer
Cristian Kovadloff contributed from Coronel Brandsen, Argentina.
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