President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration has reached a new agreement to lower beef prices for American consumers. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said that for the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to enter the country without triggering additional tariff quotas. He also stated the imported beef would be sold at 25% below the current market price.
US Beef Prices Are High While Our Herds Are at An All-Time Low
This was not the news farmers and ranchers wanted to hear.
Rather than immediately reacting, I have taken time to listen, ask questions, and look at the bigger picture.
I correspond with leaders in Washington on agricultural issues and serve in an advisory capacity connected to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. This announcement understandably raised concerns across the agricultural community.
President Trump is addressing a very real issue: American families are struggling with grocery prices. Making food more affordable for American consumers is an important goal.
However, every policy decision can have implications on the other side. In this case, we must consider what increased beef imports could mean for American cattle producers, particularly our family farms and ranches.
The new policy temporarily allows an additional 300,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings into the United States at the lower tariff rate over a 90-day period.
The question I keep coming back to is this:
How do we support the American consumer while also strengthening the American farmer and rancher?
I do not want to simply identify the problem. I want agriculture to be part of presenting solutions.
1. Buy American and Buy Local
In both the short and long term, I will continue encouraging consumers to purchase directly from American farmers, ranchers, and local processors whenever possible.
Here in West Texas and across the Panhandle, we have opportunities to purchase locally raised and processed beef. Consumers may be surprised by how many ranching families in their own communities sell beef directly.
Know your farmer. Know your rancher. Know where your food comes from.
Supporting local producers strengthens rural economies while giving consumers a closer connection to the people producing their food.
2. Expand Small and Independent Processing
We need to continue this conversation with USDA.
President Trump recently told Glenn Beck that he would examine beef-processing regulations after Beck raised concerns about the challenges smaller producers and processors face.
We should ask what reasonable regulatory barriers can be addressed while continuing to maintain strong food-safety standards.
Expanding independent and regional processing capacity could provide producers with additional options, encourage competition, and reduce our dependence on a highly concentrated processing system.
3. Create Incentives to Rebuild the American Cattle Herd
Our long-term strategy cannot simply be increasing imports.
America needs to rebuild its cattle herd.
USDA, Congress, and cattle producers should be at the same table discussing practical ways to encourage producers to retain heifers and rebuild inventory.
That will not happen overnight. But if we are serious about American food security, we must think beyond the next 90 days and develop policies that help ensure American ranchers can continue producing beef for generations to come.
4. Revisit Country-of-Origin Labeling
Americans deserve transparency about where their food comes from.
Congress repealed mandatory Country of Origin Labeling requirements for beef and pork in 2015, with USDA implementing those changes in 2016.
I believe country-of-origin labeling deserves another serious discussion.
If we are committed to improving the American food system, strengthening domestic agriculture, and giving consumers greater transparency, then clearly identifying where our beef comes from should be part of that conversation.
The Bottom Line
This does not have to be the American consumer versus the American rancher.
We can care about the mother trying to afford groceries while also caring about the ranch family trying to stay in business.
We can support efforts to lower food costs while respectfully raising concerns about policies that may have unintended consequences for American producers.
Most importantly, farmers and ranchers need a seat at the table as these decisions are made.
We cannot simply focus on what beef costs Americans today. We also have to ask who will be producing America’s beef 10, 20, and 30 years from now.
Support American agriculture. Know where your food comes from. Buy American and buy local whenever possible. And continue working toward solutions that strengthen both American families and the farmers and ranchers who feed them.
Read the Press Release of what the USDA is doing to Rebuild the Great American Cattle Herd.
https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/08/31/secretary-rollins-announces-ranchers-first-initiatives-rebuild-great-american-beef-herd
