Florida Cattle Ranchers Push Back On Trump’s Beef Import Plan

August 31, 2026

Florida’s cattle ranchers are criticizing President Donald Trump’s move to import 300,000 tons of tariff-free beef to lower prices for consumers.

Blaming President Joe Biden for increased prices, Trump announced the deal on social media recently, saying it would drop the cost of beef to 25 percent below current market prices.

“This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

But Florida’s cattle ranchers, and ranchers across the country, are “disappointed,” said Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The Florida Cattlemen’s Association agrees.

“Artificially interfering with the cattle market is not sound policy — especially when producers continue to face record-high prices for many of the inputs required to raise cattle,” said the group’s president, John Williamson. “Strong markets are encouraging cattlemen to rebuild their herds, and government intervention that disrupts those market signals threatens both producer confidence and the long-term stability of America’s beef supply.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, beef and veal prices are expected to increase 10.7 percent this year. This past April, the average retail price for beef set a record high at $9.64 per pound, up about 13 percent from 2025.

Excessive drought across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic and increased operating costs have dwindled the U.S. cattle herd to a 75-year low after pushing farmers to liquidate their herds, according to the Federal Farm Bureau Federation.

In Florida this year, the state battled the harshest drought in decades, with approximately 80 percent of the state facing extreme conditions in April, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Florida currently ranks ninth in the country for beef production, according to the Annual Florida Cattle Market Report. In January of this year, the average price for a calf in Florida was 59 percent higher compared to last year and 76 percent higher than in 2024.

When asked for comment, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who is running for a second term and has been endorsed by Trump, said the best response is to promote the Fresh From Florida program, which markets Sunshine State produce.

“Our brand awareness and sales are as high as they’ve ever been,” Simpson said. “We know how important our Florida farmers and cattlemen are; we will continue to do all we can to help them. I encourage everyone to buy local Fresh From Florida products to support our farmers.”

by Ana Goñi-Lessan, The News Service of Florida

NorthEscambia.com file photo.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FRONT FEATURE 

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