The President’s Plan Is A Gut Punch

Ranchers say they are bracing for the impact of President Trump’s plan to allow beef imports to increase by 660 million pounds over a 90-day period. American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Joby Young said the President’s plan is a gut punch to ranchers’ bottom line.

“The cattle sector has been one of the few bright spots for U.S. agriculture," said Young. "And unfortunately, it just became dimmer because of the presidential proclamation to allow an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef to be imported. The U.S. is already importing beef at record levels, and this decision will be a nearly 60% increase in imports over the next 90 days. America’s ranchers are working to rebuild herds and undercutting a fragile recovery by swamping markets with foreign products and attempting to manipulate prices threatens to wipe out any progress that has been made.”

Young noted it’s not too late for the Administration to reverse this decision. He went on to say the AFBF urges the President to consider the economic harm this will cause America’s ranchers. 

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