President Trump's Plan for Cattle Markets

October 23, 2025

The Trump administration announced a plan on Wednesday to save cattle producers, while President Donald Trump sparred with cattle producers over his apparent willingness to buy more beef from Argentina.

Trump, just around noon, took to Truth Social to explain why he believes cattle prices are as high as they are.

"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," Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday. "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!"

Trump shortly followed up, "In addition to everything else, Tariffs on other Countries SAVED our Cattle Ranchers!"

Trump's comments and plans to lower consumer beef prices have added new downward volatility to cattle markets. December live cattle closed $5.60 lower at $239.82 per cwt, and April live cattle closed $6.27 lower at $240.12. November, January and March feeders each fell $9.25 per cwt.

WANTS TO QUADRUPLE BEEF QUOTA FROM ARGENTINA

Politico reported on Wednesday that the president wants to quadruple the quota for beef imports from Argentina. The annual in-quota import limit for Argentina beef is 20,000 metric tons, but Argentina exported more than 44,000 metric tons of beef to the U.S. in 2024, meaning the country blew through its tariff quota. But buyers still paid for more Argentine beef even at a higher tariff rate.

The Politico report came a day after a group of Republican senators had met with Trump, seeking to dissuade him from increasing beef imports and instead let markets dictate cattle prices.

NCBA CRITICIZES TRUMP EFFORT

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), which has steadfastly backed Trump since his first administration, issued a statement criticizing Trump's "misguided effort to lower the price of beef in stores" by increasing beef imports from Argentina.

"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 group stated.

Colin Woodall, NCBA's CEO, added, "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. It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work."

Woodall called on Trump to abandon efforts to manipulate the markets and instead focus on completing the New World screwworm facilities under development in Texas and making other investments to protect livestock from foreign animal diseases. Woodall also suggested "addressing regulatory burdens, such as delisting of the gray wolf and addressing the scourge of black vultures."

AFBF STRESSES PIVOTAL MOMENT

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall cautioned against "disrupting the fragile U.S. beef supply."

"This is a pivotal moment for America's cattle farmers as they make decisions whether to restock their pastures," Duvall said. "Farmers know America's families prefer to buy U.S. beef. If expanded imports push farmers deeper into the red, we face the unintended consequence of increasing reliance on other countries for our food and weakening our ability to rebuild a strong American herd."

USDA'S PLAN FOR CATTLE PRODUCERS

Amidst the conflict over cattle markets, the Trump administration released a plan "to strengthen the beef industry" for both cattle producers and consumers. A news release from USDA cited that the country has lost more than 100,000 cattle producers in the past decade.

Rollins said the country's food supply chain is a national security priority for the Trump administration.

"We are committed to ensuring the American people have an affordable source of protein and that America's ranchers have a strong economic environment where they can continue to operate for generations to come," Rollins said in a news release.

"At USDA we are protecting our beef industry and incentivizing new ranchers to take up the noble vocation of ranching. Today, USDA will immediately expedite deregulatory reforms, boost processing capacity, including getting more locally raised beef into schools, and working across the government to fix longstanding common-sense barriers for ranchers like outdated grazing restrictions," she stated.

USDA also pointed to the national cattle herd being at a 75-year low while demand for beef has grown 9% during the past decade. "Because increasing the size of the domestic herd takes time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing now to make these markets less volatile for ranchers over the long term and more affordable for consumers."

Focusing on its deregulation agenda, the Trump administration stated it wants to help cattle production "through endangered species reforms, as well as enhanced disaster relief and increased grazing access." Other ways to help producers include increased access to capital and risk management tools.

On grazing access, the Trump administration indicated there are roughly 29,000 grazing allotments nationally through the Bureau of Land Management that are currently vacant. USDA and the Department of Interior will sign a memorandum of understanding to streamline and expand grazing on federal lands.

DOI and USDA will develop new "standards of evidence" for compensating livestock producers for predation by wolves, bears, coyotes or other species.

For risk management, USDA's Risk Management Agency will look to expand programs for new and beginning ranchers that would lower premium costs for those producers. USDA also will develop grant opportunities with groups working with military veterans.

USDA's plans also rely on expanding or following through on some programs that started under the Biden administration.

ENFORCE VOLUNTARY PRODUCT OF USA LABEL

For instance, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will start to enforce the voluntary "Product of USA" label for meat products that will only apply to products "born, raised and slaughtered in the United States." It is a voluntary label rule that was finalized last year but set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

USDA stated Wednesday the rule would go into effect while encouraging the use of other labels. "Further adoption of state and local labeling claims could lead to additional premiums for those producers and processors providing high-quality, local beef products to American consumers."

The administration did not come out and specifically support mandatory country-of-origin labeling.

GRANTS FOR SMALLER PROCESSORS

Another part of the plan calls for a fourth round of funding for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program that would provide grants of up to $2 million for smaller processors. That program was created under the Biden administration to strengthen the food supply after pandemic disruptions. USDA also will prioritize guaranteed loans of up to $25 million for local beef processing.

As well, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will prioritize loans for small meat-processing facilities.

USDA also will expand its remote grading program and reduce meat inspection fees on holidays and overtime costs.

The plans also call for building demand -- though demand is strong -- for both domestic and international markets "so that ranchers are not trapped in the boom/bust cycle that has defined past cattle markets."

View the full USDA plan for cattle producers here:

Source: DTN