The American Farm Bureau Federation says a plan to sharply increase beef imports could come at a particularly bad time for U.S. cattle producers. President Trump has proposed importing up to 300,000 metric tons of beef over a 90-day period. Farm Bureau economists say roughly 70 percent of spring-born calves are normally marketed between September and November. Additional lower-priced imported beef could pressure cattle prices just as producers are deciding whether to retain heifers and rebuild the nation’s cattle herd.

Farm Bureau says cow-calf production costs reached a record 1,762 dollars per head last year, nearly 30 percent higher than in 2020. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says lowering cattle prices through additional imports won’t necessarily lower beef prices for consumers, but could discourage ranchers from making the investments needed to rebuild supplies.

By: NATHAN STUEDLEThe American Farm Bureau Federation says a plan to sharply increase beef imports could come at a particularly bad time for U.S. cattle producers. President Trump has proposed importing up to 300,000 metric tons of beef over a 90-day period. Farm Bureau economists say roughly 70 percent of spring-born calves are normally marketed between September and November. Additional lower-priced imported beef could pressure cattle prices just as producers are deciding whether to retain heifers and rebuild the nation’s cattle herd.Farm Bureau says cow-calf production costs reached a record 1,762 dollars per head last year, nearly 30 percent higher than in 2020. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says lowering cattle prices through additional imports won’t necessarily lower beef prices for consumers, but could discourage ranchers from making the investments needed to rebuild supplies.

Beef imports could hurt herd rebuilding