Summit focuses on national food security and supporting US ranchers
Senator Sheehy recently hosted a Common Ground Summit with the Livestock Marketing Association to discuss key issues facing American agriculture, with a focus on the beef industry. The summit highlighted the importance of supporting ranchers, protecting the national food supply, and prioritizing policies that benefit American producers.
After the event, Senator Sheehy emphasized that lowering input costs and improving profitability for ranchers are critical goals. “Montana ranchers have made clear they will oppose any plan to flood the American market with foreign beef,” Sheehy stated. He also stressed the need to reduce reliance on foreign-owned meat packers, arguing that breaking this control would strengthen national food security and provide more opportunities for American ranchers.
The summit also focused on balancing affordable prices for consumers with supporting rancher growth. Sheehy noted that “Empowering hardworking ranchers who feed America and lowering prices for American families at the grocery store are not mutually exclusive.” He highlighted that a reliable, pro-growth environment allows ranchers to expand their operations and capture more value from their products while maintaining high-quality beef for families.
Food security was a central theme of the discussion. Sheehy reminded participants that feeding the nation is a key element of national security, comparable to other critical industries such as technology and energy. He also expressed appreciation for leadership focused on protecting American agriculture.
Attendees included Senators Steve Daines, Cynthia Lummis, John Boozman, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jim Risch, Pete Ricketts, Deb Fischer, John Hoeven, and Representatives Barry Moore, Dave Taylor, Adam Gray, and Harriet Hageman. The summit provided a collaborative platform to ensure that American ranchers remain central to livestock policy and food security initiatives.