Following President Trump’s comments late last week about expanding beef imports from Argentina to lower prices for American consumers, AFR Cooperative has been closely monitoring the discussion in hopes of hearing a reversal or explanation out of Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, no additional information has materialized from either the White House or from USDA Secretary Rollins.
As we wait for news out of Washington, AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh and the AFR Cooperative officer team have released this statement:
“Years of drought, low cattle prices, high input costs, and rampant industry consolidation have left America’s ranchers operating in the red and discouraged them from expanding their herds, resulting in a U.S. cattle herd that’s the smallest it’s been since 1951.
Now that cattle producers are finally seeing a profit for years of hard work, the Trump administration is considering increasing imports of cheap foreign beef. This move could weaken the cattle market, reduce rancher confidence in the future of our industry, and result in an even smaller U.S. cattle herd. With the rest of our country’s farm economy in shambles, this is the last thing we need.
Undercutting American ranchers is not a viable pathway to lowering beef costs for consumers. Increased imports of cheap foreign beef will only increase profits for large multinational meatpackers, while introducing further uncertainty into the American cattle industry and undermining the rural communities America relies on. It will not reduce costs for consumers and will put our nation in a worse position to supply food to our own people.
America’s cattle ranchers continue to produce a nutrient-dense protein at an affordable price. While beef prices may seem high, they are reflective of the current cost of raising cattle, and when adjusted for inflation, are consistent with retail prices over the last 40 years. The average American today can purchase a pound of ground beef for roughly the same 12 minutes of work as in the 1980s.
In order to maintain this consistent supply of safe, quality protein, America needs a robust cattle industry. The Trump administration has shown an appetite to help us solve some of the issues. We hope the administration returns to its America First playbook and focuses on supporting our farmers and ranchers, not increasing profits for packers or propping up foreign governments. The future of America’s cattle industry is at stake.”
About American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union: AFR is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voices in support of AFR principles.
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