A U.S. cattle group is supporting President Trump’s tariff strategy. R-CALF’s Bill Bullard says that the group has been on board from day one.
According to Bullard, “Our organization was the only one that publicly came out and said, ‘We support these wholeheartedly.’ And we explain, for example, that whenever our price point in the cattle industry reaches a level that would incentivize our industry to begin expanding our cattle herd, we see a flood of imports and we saw that in 2024. We have a 1.6 billion pound deficit in the trade in cattle and from 2024, and that’s a 37% increase than the last five year average.”
Bullard says that the recent surge in beef imports to meet consumer demand has undermined American farmers and ranchers. He says that makes it harder to attract new producers and limits herd expansion.
“We argue that those 25% tariffs were absolutely necessary in order to level the playing field. We’re importing beef from countries that have lower wages, that hvae lower production standards, that have lower—less stringent environmental standards, and that have a huge advantage because they have weaker currencies, and our producers are experiencing a situation where these imports are displacing domestic production,” he explains.
USDA projects beef imports could reach nearly 4.5 billion pounds this year.
As the strike at a JBS facility in Colorado continues, the National Right to Work Foundation is encouraging some employees to consider returning to work. The group says not all workers on strike may want to participate and urges those who choose to cross the picket line to resign from their union memberships.
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At the Port of Brownsville, shrimpers are facing rising operating costs and increased competition, but many shrimp producers and local lawmakers remain optimistic about the industry’s future.
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Higher prices are bringing relief to markets, but rising input costs are putting pressure on the producers.
March 19, 2026 12:59 PM
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Governor Jim Pillen joined us to share the latest on the Nebraska wildfires, discuss relief efforts, and outline considerations for producers navigating the ongoing situation.
March 19, 2026 12:51 PM
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APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer Dr. Chelsey Shiveley discusses USDA’s biosecurity resources available to poultry producers ahead of spring migration, increasing the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) threatens commercial flocks.
March 18, 2026 02:08 PM
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This year at CattleCon 2026, RFD Network’s Kirbe Schnoor caught up with Donna Emick from Pneu-Dart to get her perspective on why education, safety, and accountability matter in the field.
March 18, 2026 01:22 PM
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