Ranchers are only having success because of his tariffs, the president said
U.S. ranchers are displeased with comments President Trump made regarding their success being related to his tariff plan.
In an Oct. 22 Truth Social post, President Trump stated “the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% Tariff on Brazil.”
The post also called for ranchers to “get their prices down.”
Industry groups say the president’s agenda is having the opposite effect.
Tariffs and other trade barriers do little to help farmers succeed, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said.
“Efforts to manipulate markets only risk damaging the livelihoods of American cattlemen and women, while doing little to impact the price consumers are paying at the grocery store,” the organization said in an Oct. 22 statement.
Consumer prices for U.S. beef have been on the rise.
The price for ground chuck, for example, was more than $6 per pound in September 2025, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics says. In September 2024 the price was just over $5.50 per pound.
And the price of steak this September was more than $9 per pound, compared to about $8 per pound in 2024.
To reduce consumer prices, President Trump’s administration plans to import more beef from South America.
The U.S. is ready to purchase about 80,000 metric tons of beef from Argentina, POLITICO reported.
For context, the Dominican Republic produced about 66,000 metric tons of beef in 2024/2025, USDA data shows.
But the NCBA says more imports of Argentine beef isn’t the answer.
“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and its members cannot stand behind the President while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef in an attempt to influence prices,” NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said in the organization’s statement. “It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work.”
On the same day President Trump made his beef post on social media, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled a plan to support ranchers and consumers.
The plan includes increased grazing access on federally managed lands, transparent labeling, and expanding opportunities for smaller packers.
“We greatly appreciate Secretary Rollins’ proposed reforms for the U.S. cattle industry. It’s the first comprehensive government plan issued in decades for the express purpose of revitalizing the domestic cattle industry, which has been shrinking at an alarming rate since the 80s,” Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF, said in a statement.
USDA acknowledges the increase in beef prices and is working to get those under control.
“President Trump and his cabinet are working every day to lower prices for consumers. While prices for other proteins such as eggs, pork and chicken have declined in recent months, beef prices remain elevated,” a USDA spokesperson told Farms.com in an emailed statement .”This is due to the perfect storm of sustained increase in consumer demand for beef coupled with a prolonged decrease in the supply of live cattle.
“Building back the herd will take time but Secretary Rollins is committed to reduce risk for cattle producers, deliver robust disaster relief to cattle country, and support new and beginning ranchers across the country. These actions coupled with President Trump’s work to secure lasting markets for beef producers abroad sends a strong message to American cattle producers - raise more beef and rebuild the herd.”