AGRICULTURE
Does Donald Trump know more about cattle ranching the cattle ranchers themselves?
After riling-up cattle ranchers with his idea to buy more beef from Argentina earlier in the week, on Wednesday the president decided to educate U.S. ranchers on basic economics with posts to Truth Social.
He told American cattle ranchers they “have to get their prices down,” while crediting his tariffs for what he considers their current success.
“The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don’t understand that 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,” Trump wrote.
“If it weren’t for me, they would be doing just as they’ve done for the past 20 years — Terrible!…It would be nice if they would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!”
Cattle ranchers didn’t take too long before calling B.S.
RELATED: Local Producers ‘Not Happy About It’
By late Wednesday, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn. issued the following statement.
“While we appreciate the Trump administration’s ongoing support for ranchers and landowners, we strongly oppose the proposal to increase beef imports from Argentina. Importing beef from a country where foot and mouth disease is present poses a serious threat to the health of the U.S. cattle herd. It also undermines efforts to stabilize the market through natural herd rebuilding.
Rather than turning to risky imports, we urge the administration to support long-term solutions that preserve herd health, incentivize an expansion in domestic beef production, and protect the livelihoods of American ranchers.”
The National Cattleman’s Beef Assn. had this to say:
The reality is that ranchers’ success is driven by their own hard work. America’s cattlemen and women operate in one of the most competitive marketplaces in the world. U.S. cattle producers are proud to provide the safest, highest-quality beef on earth. We simply ask that the government not undercut them by importing more Argentinian beef in order to manipulate prices.
Cattlemen and women cannot stand behind President Trump while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef. It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let cattle markets work without interference.
If the administration is truly an ally of America’s cattle producers, we call on him to abandon this effort to manipulate markets and focus instead on completing the promised New World Screwworm facility in Texas; make additional investments that protect the domestic cattle herd from foreign animal diseases such as FMD; and address regulatory burdens, such as delisting of the gray wolf and addressing the scourge of black vultures.
Congressman Pfluger Reacts
The Concho Observer contacted Rep. August Pfluger‘s office earlier in the week asking for his position on the matter.
On Friday afternoon, we received the following response:
“American cattle ranchers are the backbone of our food security and a cornerstone of our economy, working tirelessly to provide the highest quality beef for American families. Today’s higher prices are a result of strong demand, not a shortage of supply, and importing foreign beef would only discourage U.S. ranchers from expanding their herds and investing in domestic production. Bringing in beef from countries with checkered animal health records also risks the integrity of our domestic herds and undermines the gold-standard health and safety practices upheld by American producers. I am proud to stand with some of the strongest American beef supporters in Congress to ensure we keep investing in and supporting American agriculture.”
According to Communications Director Bethany Holden, Tuesday Rep. Pfluger also signed onto a letter with several of his colleagues, emphasizing the world’s highest-quality beef suppliers should not be undercut by foreign imports produced at lower standards. The letter also calls on the administration to ensure that any future trade decisions are made with “full transparency, sound science, and a firm commitment to the U.S. cattle industry.”
Social Media Discussion
The Facebook posts from both associations generated thousands of comments on both sides of the issue from followers who tend to skew Right politically on about 90 percent of posts on those pages.
The top comment on one post said “A New York dandy explains cattle ranching to cattlemen.”
Just below that comment, someone wrote:
So American cattle ranchers don’t qualify as America first? I’m a Trump supporter but I think he needs to keep in mind who feeds the nation. Maybe get costs of producing beef down before expecting ranchers to always take the hit. Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling should also be law.Let consumers have a choice what beef they buy.
Others pledged to stand behind the president, citing his Christian values as the reason for their continued support.
Raise black and red angus cattle. Voted for Donald Trump 3 times not because of issues or economics but because he has my Christian values. Like the rest have enjoyed the prices we are getting and building my herd with every heifer born. Pray for President Trump and his administration often and will trust GOD leads and guides him in what is best for consumers producers and the long term health of our industry.
That particular comment generated a series of 360-replies-and-counting focused on the president’s abundance or lack of virtue.
About 25 percent of original comments on both of the posts expressed extreme displeasure with the Trump administration’s plans to bail out Argentina with $40 billion worth of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and about one-third of original comments on both posts mentioned the dangerous situation with the New World Screwworm advancing toward the southern border.
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