Donald Trump and maga Republicans must support American beef farmers stop subsidies to Argentina

To the Editor of Daily Republic in South Dakota- Mitchell Report: By suggesting we import beef from Argentina to solve high domestic prices, Donald Trump is once again proving that his economic instincts are misguided and potentially dangerous.

Argentina has a documented history of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious livestock illness that could devastate already depleted herds if introduced in the U.S. 

Importing beef from a country with this track record is reckless, especially when ranchers have spent decades safeguarding against such outbreaks.

What ranchers actually need is stability, not short-sighted panic policies. Yes, tighter supply can mean higher prices for beef in the short term, but those price spikes are symptoms of a broken system that discourages investment and sustainability.

There are smarter, safer solutions. Rebuilding domestic herds would increase supply sustainably. Lowering tariffs on traditional, safe suppliers and addressing the soaring costs of animal feed would help stabilize both supply and prices.

Ranchers and farmers have had to make hard decisions during droughts and lost thousands of cattle in the 2013, Cattlemen’s Blizzard. While I know ranchers will weather these bad policies, this isn’t how they should be treated. Ranchers and consumers deserve better.

But even if safety weren’t a concern, the economics just don’t add up. Data from the USDA shows that even a substantial increase in beef imports would only have a marginal effect on consumer prices. In a market where Americans consume over 27 billion pounds of beef annually, an additional 100–200 million pounds from Argentina would barely register.

The real drivers of high beef prices aren’t shortages that can be solved by imports — they’re structural issues made worse by Trump’s own policies. His trade war with China triggered retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports, shrinking overseas markets. Tariffs on steel and aluminum raised the price of ag equipment. Broader trade volatility also contributed to higher fuel, seed, and fertilizer costs.

Now, with Brazilian beef subject to tariffs and imports from Mexico halted due to a screwworm outbreak, the supply of foreign beef is tight. But instead of supporting American producers, Trump’s quick fix is to open the door to risky imports.

From Steve McCleerey in Roberts County, South Dakota