Argentine Beef Imports Could Hurt Minnesota Dairy, Too

With dairy prices low, producers are looking for new ways to make an extra buck.

News of the planned increase in beef imports reportedly angered many in the farming community. (Photo: Minnesota Milk Facebook) 

But the Trump administration’s plan to import Argentine beef could undermine one of dairy farmers’ few remaining advantages, Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval reported for Minnesota Public Radio (MPR).

Many dairy farmers send their cows for beef processing once they’re no longer productive milkers — a practice that has helped boost profitability amid tight margins.

“When you send those cows away, when they're done being milk cows, you're going to get a higher value for them,” Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said.

“That's where the value has been — much better today than it was a few years ago.”

With U.S. cattle inventory at a historic low, beef prices have surged, leading to sticker shock at grocery stores. President Donald Trump announced a plan to quadruple Argentine beef imports in hopes of lowering prices.

But Petersen argued the market should be allowed to self-correct rather than be “meddled with.” “If herds build over time, the farm economy could stabilize better,” he added.

“So when you think about America First, you think about food security for our nation — for having a quality beef program,” Petersen said.

Christine Leonard, a dairy farmer from Norwood Young America, Minnesota, said news of the planned increase in beef imports angered many in the farming community.

“It kind of went against what the whole administration had been talking about — as far as American-grown things — and then to talk about bringing in beef from another country is kind of wild,” she said.

Leonard added that she’s also concerned about the potential introduction of livestock diseases from Argentina through imported beef.