Which countries export the most beef?
The Trump administration’s plan to increase beef imports from Argentina has caused uncertainty for local farmers and ranchers.
Citing rising meat prices, the president told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that the country may increase imports of Argentine beef.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a pound of ground beef was just over $6.31 in August, an increase of more than 77 cents from January and an increase of 74 cents from August 2024.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association rejected Trump’s proposal, saying on Wednesday that the administration should not “undermine” American ranchers by increasing imports of Argentine beef in order to “gouge prices.”
“America’s ranchers and women operate in one of the most competitive markets in the world,” the group said on social platform X. “U.S. cattle producers take pride in providing the safest, highest-quality beef on Earth.
On Wednesday, the White House confirmed plans to quadruple the tariff quota on beef imports from Argentina. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) also announced an action plan to protect local beef producers.
The plan will impact local ranchers across the country, with increased impact in some states. Which country will probably see the greatest impact? nebraska.
According to the Nebraska Farm Bureau, the state exported more than $1.86 billion worth of beef in 2022, the most in the country. This represents approximately 16 percent of the country’s beef exports. Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer (R), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said Tuesday that she has “deep concerns” about the administration’s plan.
Besides Nebraska, other major beef exporters include Kansas ($1.4 billion for beef and veal in 2023), Texas ($1.3 billion), and Iowa ($721 million).
Texas is also the state with the highest stock of cattle and calves, at 12.2 million head as of the beginning of this year, according to the Department of Agriculture. Other significant cattle producers include Oklahoma with 4.6 million head, Missouri with 3.95 million head, South Dakota with 3.55 million head, and Iowa with 3.5 million head. As of July, the total US cattle inventory was more than 94 million head.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, told Semaphore on Wednesday that the administration’s proposal “is not the way to do it.”
“It created a lot of uncertainty in that market,” Thune said. “So I hope the White House gets the message.”
