Ag Leaders Speak Out Against Beef Imports

Montana’s agriculture leaders came out in opposition last week after President Trump indicated plans to import beef from Argentina as a method to decrease beef prices for the nation’s consumers.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association noted, “As cattle producers, we not only know how to raise the most nutritious, high-quality meat in the world, we also know what it’s like to feed our families and make our dollars stretch at the store. Beef remains a great value for American families. U.S. cattle ranchers operate in one of the most transparent and competitive markets in the world, and any artificial manipulation of beef prices undermines the principles of fair trade and free enterprise that have long sustained rural economies. Interference in pricing not only threatens producers’ livelihoods but also jeopardizes the longterm health of the U.S. beef supply chain.”

Walter Schweitzer, president of the Montana Farmers Union, said, “When will Trump put the American farmer and rancher first? It is bad enough that we are giving $40 billion to bail out the Argentina economy while they exported billions of dollars of soybeans to China, but now we are going to allow Argentina to dump their beef scraps into the U.S. markets.”

Schweitzer explained that beef markets need enforcement of anti-trust laws and mandatory Country of Origin Labeling. Currently, America is importing more beef then ever in the nation’s history.

“Expanding beef imports benefits the multinational beef packers at the expense of cattle ranching families and the consumers,” Schweitzer said. “Instead of trying to undercut American ranchers, President Trump and Congress should be focused on creating fair markets that mean a more food secure America.”

U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., spoke out against the report of potential beef imports from Argentina.

“Montana beef is the envy of the world and a keystone of Montana’s economy,” Downing said in a press release. “Our ranchers take pride in their work, and our people crave the quality beef they know and love. Developing strong trade relations is important, but more important is nurturing the American agriculture we have right here at home. I’m proud to join my colleagues in cattle country in this effort to ensure the voices of our ranchers are heard loud and clear.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins noted positive efforts that Trump is making to support the agriculture industry. Since 2017, the U.S. has lost more than 17 percent of family farms and more than 100,000 operations during the last decade.

“America’s food supply chain is a national security priority for the Trump Administration. We are committed to ensuring the American people have an affordable source of protein and that America’s ranchers have a strong economic environment where they can continue to operate for generations to come,” Rollins said on Wednesday, Oct. 22. “At USDA we are protecting our beef industry and incentivizing new ranchers to take up the noble vocation of ranching. Today, USDA will immediately expedite deregulatory reforms, boost processing capacity, including getting more locally raised beef into schools, and working across the government to fix longstanding common-sense barriers for ranchers like outdated grazing restrictions.”