US Ranchers Feeling Trump's Beef Policies are a "Train Wreck"
The cattle industry has been whiplashed by President Donald Trump's recent beef policies, leaving many ranchers feeling frustrated and disenchanted with the president. The announcement of an investigation into the meatpacking industry and plans to increase imports from Argentina have sparked outrage among the typically loyal rancher base.
As a result of the low herd numbers for beef cattle since the 1950s, prices paid to ranchers are at an all-time high. But consumer beef prices remain relatively stable, with ground beef costing $6.32 per pound as of September - a 11 percent increase from last year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not release economic data due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Trump's comments on importing Argentinian beef were seen as a threat to ranchers' recent gains, and many expressed their discontent through social media. Corbitt Wall, a commercial cattle manager and market analyst, described Trump's post as "hubris" and said it "insulted" the entire industry.
While some ranchers have come out in support of Trump, others are critical of his policies and feel that he doesn't understand the complexities of the cattle trade. Oregon rancher David Packham stated that despite rising prices, many ranchers are still struggling due to years of drought and rising equipment costs. He fears that consumers may think ranchers are living high off the hog when in reality they're just trying to survive.
The announcement of an antitrust investigation into the big four US meatpackers - Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef - has also sparked some optimism among ranchers. Historically, these companies have controlled over 80 percent of the market, giving them significant negotiating power. However, a prior investigation was quietly closed without findings just weeks before Trump announced the new probe.
Industry expert James MacDonald views the administration's antitrust investigation as "entirely for political consumption." He believes that increasing imports from Argentina will not ease the current shortage or lower prices, and that the industry is still struggling to replenish its cattle supply chain.
The closure of a Nebraska beef-processing plant by Tyson has further highlighted the shortage. MacDonald called it a "shock" indicative of the depths of the US beef shortage, which he believes is a perennial issue for ranchers.
While Trump's policies may not have an immediate impact on consumer prices or the overall market, Wall says that ranchers are living and dying by the cattle markets, and they will stick with Trump when election time comes around.
The cattle industry has been whiplashed by President Donald Trump's recent beef policies, leaving many ranchers feeling frustrated and disenchanted with the president. The announcement of an investigation into the meatpacking industry and plans to increase imports from Argentina have sparked outrage among the typically loyal rancher base.
As a result of the low herd numbers for beef cattle since the 1950s, prices paid to ranchers are at an all-time high. But consumer beef prices remain relatively stable, with ground beef costing $6.32 per pound as of September - a 11 percent increase from last year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not release economic data due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Trump's comments on importing Argentinian beef were seen as a threat to ranchers' recent gains, and many expressed their discontent through social media. Corbitt Wall, a commercial cattle manager and market analyst, described Trump's post as "hubris" and said it "insulted" the entire industry.
While some ranchers have come out in support of Trump, others are critical of his policies and feel that he doesn't understand the complexities of the cattle trade. Oregon rancher David Packham stated that despite rising prices, many ranchers are still struggling due to years of drought and rising equipment costs. He fears that consumers may think ranchers are living high off the hog when in reality they're just trying to survive.
The announcement of an antitrust investigation into the big four US meatpackers - Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef - has also sparked some optimism among ranchers. Historically, these companies have controlled over 80 percent of the market, giving them significant negotiating power. However, a prior investigation was quietly closed without findings just weeks before Trump announced the new probe.
Industry expert James MacDonald views the administration's antitrust investigation as "entirely for political consumption." He believes that increasing imports from Argentina will not ease the current shortage or lower prices, and that the industry is still struggling to replenish its cattle supply chain.
The closure of a Nebraska beef-processing plant by Tyson has further highlighted the shortage. MacDonald called it a "shock" indicative of the depths of the US beef shortage, which he believes is a perennial issue for ranchers.
While Trump's policies may not have an immediate impact on consumer prices or the overall market, Wall says that ranchers are living and dying by the cattle markets, and they will stick with Trump when election time comes around.
. I mean, can't he see how it's affecting these ranchers? They're already struggling due to droughts and equipment costs, and now he's threatening to flood the market with Argentinian beef? It's like he doesn't understand the industry at all 
. And what's with the antitrust investigation? It's just a bunch of smoke and mirrors 
. I've seen some ranchers try to make a buck off Trump's ego, but honestly, it's hard to blame them for being frustrated. Those big four meatpackers are still in control, and it's only going to get worse if we keep importing more beef 
.
, Trump's beef policies are a disaster waiting to happen! These guys are already struggling to make ends meet after years of drought and rising equipment costs... it's like he's poking a bear with a stick 
. The fact that consumer prices remain stable while rancher profits skyrocket is just not right - I mean, who benefits from that? Not the ranchers, that's for sure.
. If it really was about making things better for ranchers, wouldn't we have seen some real changes by now? Instead, we're just getting empty promises and tweets from Trump 
.
. And the fact that Trump is just dismissing all the concerns from ranchers and farmers is just...wow 
. I mean, can't he see that his policies are gonna hurt these people hard? They're not just talking about "surviving", they're literally trying to stay afloat in an industry that's been struggling for years 
. It's all about squeezing every last penny out of this market and leaving everyone else in the dust. So, yeah, I'm with Corbitt Wall on this one - Trump's comments were totally hubris 
. Time to get real, dude!
they're literally struggling to survive due to drought, equipment costs, and whatnot... and then trump's beef policies come along like a train wreck 
it's just not fair that prices are high for them but not really affecting consumer prices. i mean, argentina is gonna be the savior of us beef or what? 
seriously though, antitrust investigation might be a good move but we need some actual solutions to replenish cattle supply chain ASAP 
! These beef policies under Trump are a total disaster 
. And don't even get me started on the antitrust investigation - sounds like it's just a PR stunt 
. Meanwhile, ranchers are struggling with droughts, equipment costs & low herd numbers... it's like they're running a marathon in quicksand 
- he has no idea how the cattle trade works 
.
. They're already struggling with droughts and equipment costs, so this import from Argentina thing might not be as big of a deal as people think 
. And yeah, I get why they're upset about the antitrust probe - it's like, are they really gonna crack down on the big four or is that just a PR move? 
.
. They're the ones who risk it all to bring us that juicy steak. Maybe we should give 'em some love instead of trying to screw with their business 
.
. And what really grinds my gears is when people think that because Trump's in office, everything is gonna magically fix itself 
. Newsflash: it's not that easy 
.
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. But hey, at least some ranchers are sticking with trump when election time comes around 
.
. And let's not forget the antitrust investigation - sounds like more of the same old politics to me