POWER, MT — When Tim Brunner was at an auction barn earlier this week, he was surprised to see decent cows selling several hundred dollars cheaper than they were just a few weeks ago.
He largely blames President Donald Trump. And he’s not the only one.
The White House’s abrupt decision last week to ease tariffs on 300,000 metric tons — more than 660 million pounds — of foreign beef imports has infuriated American cattle ranchers and congressional Republicans alike.
While the president promised the 90-day change would ease high prices for staple foods like hamburgers, many domestic livestock producers took it as a slap in the face during an already-difficult time.
“It’s absolutely idiotic,” said Brunner, the president of the Montana Cattlemen’s Association.
Standing in his own ranch in the roughly 200-person town of Power, Brunner worried he might have to sell cattle at cheaper prices because of the shift, which has left many people like him with unanswered questions.
Trump officially signed a more-detailed Aug. 26 proclamation, which includes a provision allowing him to pump the brakes on the plan if beef prices don’t come down quickly. It remains unclear from the document which country or countries the beef — to be sold at 25% below market value — will come from and where it may be sold. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did not provide more specifics to USA TODAY, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Even Brooke Rollins, the secretary of agriculture, said in a Spectrum News interview she wasn’t involved in certain implementation conversations. She defended the administration’s move, saying a temporary fix was needed amid a longer-term federal response to the industry’s challenges.
Why Ranchers Are Worried
In Montana, cattle ranchers have done little to hide their frustration with Trump’s latest move. The plan directly affects just a fraction of the beef market — experts say it represents only about a week’s worth of U.S. consumption — but it’s not the first time the president has arguably undercut American ranchers. In February, he signed an executive order to lift tariffs on 80,000 metric tons of beef from Argentina. Half a year later, he’s again boosting imports in an industry where prices are heavily influenced by perceptions about supply.
Gus Mundt, a fourth-generation Montana rancher, braced at the thought of selling his heifers at lower prices. That’s a change from a few months ago, when market improvements allowed him to invest in a new tractor.
“Now I’ve got to think about having to save again,” he told USA TODAY.
Pressure Beyond Beef Imports
Summer’s end already marks a tougher season for ranchers. Around September is usually the start of the fall run, a period when the market is oversaturated with cattle, driving prices down. The fall run typically peaks in October and November — around the time Trump’s new 90-day clock for the mystery beef will run out.
Boosting imports isn’t the only policy decision affecting ranchers in places like Montana. The administration is also ratcheting up its trade war with neighboring Canada. At the same time, the Iran war has made fertilizer and fuel more expensive.
“It’s a triple whammy,” said Richard Liebert, another rancher and past Montana Cattlemen’s Association president.
A 75-Year-Low Cattle Herd
High beef prices have been a consistent issue since the start of Trump’s second term, but they’ve been years in the making. Pasture conditions deteriorated significantly in 2020, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Pandemic-related disruptions and severe drought then drove up supply-chain costs and sharply contracted domestic cattle inventory.
Amid those dynamics, the overall U.S. beef and dairy cattle herd hit a 75-year low this year. Americans’ demand has largely remained strong, leading to higher prices for hamburger meat and steak at grocery stores and restaurants.
Those costs have frustrated consumers, creating a political liability for the administration.
What Consumers May See
Trump has said the import plan will reduce prices for Americans while giving the domestic herd room to grow. But the plan’s effect on grocery prices remains uncertain, especially because it covers only about a week’s worth of consumption and the details of its rollout are still unclear.
Country-of-origin labels could give shoppers the option to prioritize buying American beef, although lawmakers acknowledge labels alone would not solve the market’s supply problems.
Contributing: Jennifer Borresen, Bart Jansen
Zachary Schermele is the congressional correspondent for USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.