‘Nobody’s happy about it, let’s put it that way’: America’s cattle ranchers were looking forward to a rare profitable year before the Argentina gambit

American cattle ranchers were anticipating a profitable year due to strong demand and a historically small U.S. herd, exacerbated by drought and prior low prices. Beef imports have also declined due to restrictions on Brazil and Mexico. The President's plan to import more beef from Argentina, aimed at lowering record-high consumer prices, has met significant opposition from U.S. ranchers and skepticism from agricultural economists. Ranchers argue that the plan contradicts the administration's stated goals of promoting domestic production and supporting American ranchers, fearing it could lead to policies that harm their industry. Economists suggest that Argentine beef, representing a small fraction of U.S. imports, would have a negligible impact on overall consumer prices, particularly for steaks, though it might affect ground beef prices. The uncertainty generated by this proposed policy could also discourage ranchers from investing in herd expansion. Despite ranchers' concerns, the administration maintains its commitment to supporting ranchers while addressing ... download the app to read more