Cattle industry wary of Trump’s beef import plan
Staff writer
Local cattle producers are concerned about President Donald Trump’s proposal to import beef from Argentina to drive down food prices.
Rickey Roberts, county extension agent, does not know whether Trump’s proposal would bring prices down.
Those in the cattle industry have every right to be concerned about their livelihood, Roberts said.
Reducing the tariffs on beef, he said, is an attempt to drive down retail prices without thinking about ramifications on the cattle industry.
“If that is successful, and can import enough it would drive down prices, at the same time it would lower prices for cattle,” he said. “This is what farmers are concerned about.”
Roberts wonders how much beef the U.S. federal government will be able to get from Argentina.
“Will that be enough to accomplish what he wants in driving down meat prices?” Roberts asked.
He is telling the local cattle industry to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
“We don’t know what is going to happen,” he said, adding that the proposal was just made a few days ago.
“A farmer or rancher has no control over this,” he said. “All they can do is wait to see what happens.
“There’s reason for concern, but we do not know the impacts yet.”
Matt Steele, president of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association, said that importing beef from Argentina was not something his group would ever support.
“There’s always a concern when the market jumps one way or another,” he said.
There is little question cattle prices would be affected, he said.
“It’s hard to determine whether Trump is just rattling the cages over what is reality,” Steele said.
Van Schmidt, auctioneer at El Dorado Livestock Auction, said early reports were concerning.
“It already has had an impact” Schmidt said.
Roberts is skeptical Trump will be able to accomplish what he and his cabinet proposed.
“How much beef can be taken from Argentina?” he asked. “I don’t know how much they can import here.”
Even if the proposal is successful, Roberts said, it will take a while to start.
“I am skeptical that is going through, but it could happen,” he said. “There are so many unknowns.”