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.
From meatpacking settlements to landmark NEPA rulings, Roger McEowen outlines the top legal developments in 2025 that will shape agriculture in the years ahead.
January 20, 2026 03:39 PM
·
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation joined us to review new policies and regulations supporting the dairy industry and what they mean for the year ahead.
January 20, 2026 03:25 PM
·
Despite rising costs and growing food insecurity, meat demand remained strong in 2025 as higher-income consumers offset cutbacks elsewhere. Economists break down the K-shaped economy, upcoming USDA cattle reports, livestock production outlooks, and renewed debate over beef imports and country-of-origin labeling heading into 2026.
January 20, 2026 02:47 PM
·
Midland County Livestock Association President Brandon Mitchell reflects on another strong year for the event, including a premium sale that once again topped the million-dollar mark.
January 20, 2026 08:00 AM
·
Livestock strength is carrying the farm economy, while crop margins remain tight and increasingly dependent on risk management and financial discipline.
January 19, 2026 05:00 PM
·
Strong balance sheets still matter, but liquidity, planning, and lender relationships are critical as ag credit tightens, according to analysis from AgAmerica Lending.
January 19, 2026 03:00 PM
·
