An announcement by President Donald Trump this past week has local beef producers wondering whats next for them and for the future of the industry.
Trump told reporters his administration is working on beef and has a deal coming to lower prices, but didnt offer any details. Over the weekend, he also floated the idea of buying beef from Argentina to boost supply and bring prices down for U.S. shoppers.
That talk has producers across the country and right here at home feeling uneasy. Many are pushing back, saying the price of beef at the store isnt simply about profit. Its about the real costs of doing business.
Corn might be down, said longtime Moody County ranchers Dean and Diana Larson, but rent, medicine, minerals, trucking all of that has gone up every year for the past ten. Even with higher prices now, if you average it out, were still behind.
The Larsons, who have been ranching together for 42 years, say theyre worried the presidents plan could end up falling squarely on the backs of producers forcing smaller operations out of business while leaving industry giants to gain. They expect to see some sale barns hold off and production slow as many wait to see how the market reacts in the weeks ahead.
Nationally, cattle numbers are already the lowest theyve been since 1951 about 86.7 million head after years of drought forced herd reductions. Rebuilding takes time, and imports have also dropped off because of disease safeguards and trade measures.
The Meat Institute, which represents meatpackers, said its still waiting for more information on what Trumps plan might look like. Meanwhile, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has said the USDA will soon share details on a plan to help rebuild the nations herd but it wont include direct payments to producers.
More on how local ranchers are preparing for whatever comes next and what they say could be at stake in a future issue of the Moody County Enterprise.
Local ranchers uneasy with Trumps beef price talk
