As the Trump administration desperately tries to cut costs for Americans ahead of November's midterm elections, one critical demographic to U.S. food supplies is becoming increasingly fed up. President Donald Trump in August announced that the U.S. would import 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef trim, well over half a billion pounds, from nations around the world, leaving some cattle ranchers in red states typically aligned with the president's agenda uneasy heading into a high-stakes election for Republicans. "These markets have been very volatile the last month," Greg Gunthorp, a farm-to-table cattle farmer in northeast Indiana, told Fox News Digital.
"The ranchers have lost a lot of equity. The markets are down substantially." ‘WHY WOULD HE DO THIS TO US?’: TRUMP'S FOREIGN BEEF PUSH IS HURTING HIS BASE, REPUBLICANS WARN Gunthorp said the current uncertainty makes it difficult to decide whether to retain heifers for breeding or sell them as feeder cattle. Complicating matters is the fact that cattle herds in the U.S. have already thinned to their lowest level in 75 years, which could spell disaster for ranchers and consumers.
Part of that shortage stems from a prolonged drought that has decimated some of the midwest herd populations. Additionally, spoking diesel costs stemming from the war in Iran means cattle ranchers are already operating on thinner margins and being forced to raise their prices. Jaclyn Wilson, a cattle rancher in western Nebraska, told Fox News Digital that how much of the 300,000 metric tons is actually imported, another unanswered question, is critical to assessing the impact that Trump administration's move will have on the industry.
TRUMP WANTS CHEAPER BEEF. REPUBLICANS IN KEY RACES WARN HIS PLAN GOES TOO FAR "The only thing that really concerns me and continues to concern me, is that the market volatility is definitely there," she said. "It seems like any time that we have significant prices in the beef industry and our administration says something, we do see that market fluctuate and that can be devastating for producers that are selling calves right now or even yearling," Wilson continued.
Wilson said she sold some yearling steers just after the announcement was made, and got $175 less per head than she would have normally. "And that's pretty significant for a producer," she said. Another common theme shared by ranchers who spoke with Fox News Digital is that they want the government to incentivize producing cattle, or at least stay out of the market and let cattle ranchers do it on their own.
BROOKE ROLLINS, MONICA CROWLEY: AMERICA’S FAMILY FARMS HAVE KEPT US STRONG FOR 250 YEARS "You can relieve a price temporarily today, but they're not going to put cattle back in Mississippi pastures," said Mississippi cattle rancher Mary Jo Perry. "And that's the problem, is that we have a cattle shortage. So, something needs to be done to encourage farmers and incentivize them, enable them to retain heifers." Perry, who runs a grass fed, farm-to-table beef operation, said the White House's policy proposal hasn't affected her business.
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