President Donald Trump mentioned in a social media publish Wednesday that American cattle ranchers “need to get their costs down,” and that the tariffs he is enacted are “the one cause they’re doing so nicely, for the primary time in many years.”
“The Cattle Ranchers, who I really like, don’t perceive that the one cause they’re doing so nicely, for the primary time in many years, is as a result of I put Tariffs on cattle coming into america, together with a 50% Tariff on Brazil,” Trump wrote on his Reality Social platform.
“If it weren’t for me, they might be doing simply as they’ve carried out for the previous 20 years — Horrible!” the publish continued, including “It might be good if they might perceive that, however additionally they need to get their costs down, as a result of the buyer is a really huge think about my considering, additionally!”
The president’s feedback come amid increasing concern from American farmers in regards to the destructive impact Trump’s commerce warfare with China is having on their skill to promote their crops, and his feedback Monday that the U.S. may purchase beef from Argentina as costs for U.S.-grown beef continue to rise.
“We might purchase some beef from Argentina,” Trump advised reporters on Air Drive One. “If we do this, that may convey our beef costs down, as a result of our groceries are down, our vitality costs are down. … The one factor that is saved up is beef, and if we purchase some beef now, I am not speaking about that a lot from Argentina. That will assist Argentina, which we contemplate an excellent nation, an excellent ally in a spot.”
“Since listening to the president’s feedback suggesting the U.S. would purchase beef from Argentina, I’ve been in contact along with his administration and my colleagues to hunt readability and categorical my deep considerations,” Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., posted on X on Tuesday.
“Backside line: if the aim is addressing beef costs on the grocery retailer, this isn’t the way in which,” Fischer continued, partially. “I strongly encourage the Trump administration to concentrate on commerce offers that profit our ag producers—not imports that may do extra hurt than good.”
Scott Thomsen, a fourth-generation cattle, corn and soybean farmer, advised ABC Information Dwell he opposes Trump’s proposal to import beef from Argentina to handle rising meat costs.
“We have to cut back imports. We have to develop our herd,” mentioned Thompsen, who mentioned he’s a Trump supporter. “We have to develop home beef on this nation. We’ve got the means to do it, and I believe we shouldn’t be searching for new markets to convey beef in right here.”
Mark McHargue, the president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, additionally criticized the potential settlement with Argentina.
“Sadly we’ve got an administration that thinks they need to decrease the worth of beef,” McHargue posted on X. “Nebraska Farm Bureau is adamantly against something that may artificially decrease the worth of beef … fairly frankly we want this shiny spot in Nebraska.”
A number of components are contributing to excessive beef costs, according to the Nebraska Farm Bureau, together with a “multi-decade” low cattle provide because of drought, pressured culling of herds, a “lack of cattle coming from Mexico because of screwworm” and ensuing “record-high cow costs.”
“Agriculture is the #1 business in Nebraska and cattle manufacturing represents the most important phase of the business,” according to the Nebraska Beef Council, which mentioned as of 2023, cattle within the state outnumbered folks by a 3-to-1 margin.
Trump’s feedback on Monday got here lower than every week after the president introduced a $20 billion bailout for Argentina’s foundering economic system, prompting questions as to why the U.S. would commit billions to spice up the economic system of a overseas nation when 1000’s of American farmers are struggling.
ABC Information’ Isabella Murray and Ben Siegel contributed to this report.
