BATESVILLE, Ark. – Cattle producers across Arkansas are voicing opposition to President Donald Trump’s proposal to increase beef imports from Argentina, warning that the move would undermine domestic markets without significantly reducing prices for consumers.
On Oct. 20, 2025, Trump suggested purchasing Argentine beef to address rising U.S. grocery costs during comments to reporters aboard Air Force One. Ground beef prices have climbed about 15% this year to nearly $7 per pound, driven by a U.S. cattle herd of 94.2 million head as of July—the lowest since 1951—along with ongoing drought conditions affecting feed and water supplies.
The administration announced plans on Oct. 23 to quadruple low-tariff imports from 20,000 to 80,000 metric tons annually, a step aimed at bolstering supplies but one that has drawn immediate backlash from the beef industry. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association urged Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to allow markets to function without interference, citing risks from Argentina’s history with diseases like foot-and-mouth and potential harm to U.S. livestock.
In Arkansas, where the cattle sector supports a $1.2 billion annual economic impact through thousands of operations, the proposal has sent shockwaves through local markets, according to the Arkansas Farm Bureau. The state shipped over 400,000 head of cattle in recent years, but producers fear imports could depress prices paid to ranchers while benefiting packers.
Dr. Hunter Burnett, an assistant professor of animal science at Arkansas State University and a cattle rancher, described the plan as targeting the wrong audience. “Because right now with the cattle industry, it is actually very profitable for producers, right? And the deal is we’re not saying, ‘Hey, don’t take that away from us,’ but it’s targeting the wrong audience,” Burnett said in an interview with KAIT. He noted Argentina’s limited surplus—about 25-30% of production—for export compared to the U.S.’s 200-300 metric tons annually, predicting minimal price relief for consumers.
Burnett added that packers could use imports to expand output and squeeze producer margins: “The packers are still going to be producing more and more beef overall, and they’re going to be making the market margins in their favor. The problem will be is they’re going to fluctuate those prices down to us and lower what they’re paying us.”
Trump responded on Oct. 22 via social media, stating that ranchers “don’t understand” how his tariffs have boosted their profits and that they “have to get their prices down.” Experts like Burnett advocate for herd rebuilding, which could take two years to stabilize supplies and eventually ease consumer costs through natural market adjustments.
The White House has outlined complementary measures, including expanded federal grazing permits, to support long-term domestic growth. Arkansas producers continue to monitor developments, emphasizing the need for policies that prioritize U.S. agriculture.