Senator Deb Fischer said she has “deep concerns” about U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to import beef from Argentina to help curb prices, adding that cattle ranchers have had “the rug pulled out from under them” by his administration.
The Nebraska Republican, whose state is one of the top beef producers in the U.S., said the move would harm the already struggling agricultural economy.
The issue of spiraling beef prices means Trump must reconcile two competing, urgent issues: Bringing down the cost of living for ordinary Americans while improving and protecting the domestic agriculture sector under his “America First” trade agenda.
Voter concerns about inflation and a promise to protect American producers from foreign competition that undercut them in the U.S. market helped to deliver Trump the White House for a second time.
With midterms looming in 2026, Trump is under pressure to deliver on both.
“Since hearing the president’s comments suggesting the U.S. would buy beef from Argentina, I’ve been in touch with his administration and my colleagues to seek clarity and express my deep concerns,” Fischer, herself a cattle rancher, said in a statement posted to X on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve also been sounding the alarm on the bleak state of our ag economy and the negative impacts facing Nebraska’s ag industry—the economic driver of our state.
“Bottom line: if the goal is addressing beef prices at the grocery store, this isn’t the way. Right now, government intervention in the beef market will hurt our cattle ranchers.
“The U.S. has safe, reliable beef, and it is the one bright spot in our struggling ag economy. Nebraska’s ranchers cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them when they’re just getting ahead or simply breaking even.”
Fischer added: “I strongly encourage the Trump administration to focus on trade deals that benefit our ag producers—not imports that will do more harm than good.”
Trump had said his administration would import beef from Argentina to help tackle persistently high prices as the supply is throttled by drought, a flesh-eating pest and other issues affecting cattle.
“We would buy some beef from Argentina,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled from Florida to Washington, D.C., on Sunday. “If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.”
The price of beef, alongside other everyday essentials, has soared this year largely because screwworm outbreaks have weakened already diminished cattle herds.
According to the most recent data from the Department of Labor, the beef and veal index rose 13.9 percent in the 12 months to August, with uncooked beef steaks up 16.6 percent.
Experts believe beef prices will remain elevated for the foreseeable future, given the lengthy process of replenishing herds and high tariffs on key exporting nations such as Brazil.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
