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‘I can’t keep heifers back’: Minnesota cow-calf producer shares impact of beef imports with lawmakers
A Minnesota cow-calf producer is voicing her concerns about beef imports to members of Congress.
Ellie Trout and her family farm in Itasca County and she joined members of Minnesota Farm Bureau during a recent legislative fly-in to Washington D.C.
“My big push was to talk about beef imports. As a beef cow-calf producer, in the fall I should be making my decisions about what heifers I keep back and what I sell. And as we’re at a national low for the cattle herd in America right now, I can’t keep heifers back now with beef imports coming in and lowering our prices.”
She tells Brownfield there was a lot of support from lawmakers.
“Every conversation I had, they agreed. They understood the importance of taking care of American farmers, especially when we’re in an administration that is focused on America first and the American farmer, and now we’re doing things that are negatively impacting the American farmer.”
American Farm Bureau released a report showing the administration’s plan to allow 300,000 metric tons of tariff-free beef imports would cost U.S. producers around $400 per head.
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Cattle prices are way above what they should b3. This rancher won’t loose 400 per head of normally priced beef but the inflated cost.
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We’re I an administration that’s focused on America first and the American farmer–& now we’re doing things that hurt the American farmer. Listen to yourself and vote accordingly. And – good luck to everyone( no sarcasm intended). Hopefully we can survive this .
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Just goes to show you the man is out of touch with reality. Says one thing then does something totally opposite. He only cares about one thing, himself. Got to remember the man never had a formal education
and his pappy was a slumlord. -
Nonsense….the national cowherd has been down way below normal for years now and a lot of producers have chosen for years to sell heifers they would usually keep due to the extremely high prices at the sale barn trying to take the cash now instead of going through the long process and risk of getting the heifers bred and having to calve them out….this cycle has been going on for years and the beef imports have little to nothing to do with it. If people were serious about rebuilding the national cowherd they would have been doing it for years now.
WV farmer who also was keeping heifers to try and rebuild are great countrys cattle heard, with deisal prices, rain keeping me from putting up enough hay. Selling them!