An executive order lowering tariffs on beef imports would have dealt a frustrating blow to Wyoming cattle ranchers had President Donald Trump signed it Monday, industry and U.S. officials said.
Trump ultimately delayed signing the order after concerns surfaced from Republican lawmakers and agriculture groups worried the move could weaken cattle prices at a time when ranchers are finally beginning to recover from years of drought and financial strain.
“The world needs more Wyoming beef, not less,” U.S. Sen. John Barrasso told Cowboy State Daily in an emailed statement.
“We’re certainly very concerned with it,” said Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. “(Trump) seems to be so intent on lowering the price of beef for the consumer. But the prices the consumer is paying today is what has made our industry viable.”
Beef prices have steadily climbed since 2021, driven largely by shrinking cattle numbers and strong consumer demand. Ground beef prices are up 40% from five years ago.
Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher and former chairman of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, previously told Cowboy State Daily that the U.S. has plenty of supply. But demand has also remained high, and that’s what’s really been keeping prices higher.
Wyoming's U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a cattle rancher, said in a statement Monday that the question of lowering tariffs on beef imports is a “challenging tightrope for the administration.” She said cattle ranchers will lose a lot of money on livestock sales if lowered tariffs impacted overall cattle prices.
“Despite a historic drought limiting the supply of water and feed, the lone bright spot in farm country has been the cattle business,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a statement. “Ranchers are finally starting to recover from years of losses. Any plans to increase beef imports are extremely worrisome and could undermine the fragile recovery ranchers are experiencing.”
Free Trade Vs. Imported Beef
Tyler Lindholm, a Crook County rancher and state director of Americans for Prosperity, told Cowboy State Daily that lowering any tariffs is a positive step for Americans.
From an economic standpoint, eliminating tariffs would ease the price of goods across the board, he said.
“Let’s lower the tariffs on beef,” he said. “But let’s also get rid of the tariffs on everything. Getting rid of tariffs – full stop – would help out Americans more than lowering tariffs on beef imports.”
At the same time, Lindholm said he is no fan of importing more beef.
That’s because U.S. beef is superior, he said.
It’s a sentiment that both Magagna and Sen. Barrasso echoed.
“From what I understand, I don’t believe there are a lot of prime cuts of beef in other countries,” Magagna said.
Barrasso said the Trump administration remains determined to expand domestic beef production.
“That should be the focus,” he said, “not flooding the U.S. market with foreign beef.”
Most imported beef, industry leaders say, is trim meat that is combined with U.S. beef to make hamburger. While increased imports might shave a little off the price of ground beef, Magagna said it is unlikely to lower the cost of steaks at Walmart or local steakhouses.
“We’re meeting the consumer demand,” Magagna said. “They’ve demonstrated they’re willing to pay the higher prices.”
Dennis Sun, publisher of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and a Cowboy State Daily columnist, said he also doubts lowering tariffs on imported beef would do much for either ranchers or consumers.
“We just have to see how it shakes out,” he said.
Another Way To Lower Beef Prices
Lindholm previously told Cowboy State Daily that one of the best ways to lower beef prices for consumers would be allowing more direct meat sales between producers and consumers.
Currently, four corporate meatpacking companies — Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS and National Beef — control roughly 85% of beef processing in the United States. It has led to the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into antitrust concerns within the meatpacking industry, Cowboy State Daily reported last week.
Custom slaughter facilities are operated by producers who eat the product they themselves raise.
“Custom slaughter facilities are inspected by the same people who inspect our restaurants,” Lindholm said, noting that such facilities already operate throughout Wyoming.
“Right now my option as rancher, if I want to sell for retail, is to haul my beef to Sheridan or South Dakota. But if I could just haul it to town (Sundance), it would save me a ton of money.”
Buying beef direct from a Wyoming rancher would also make beef more affordable for Wyoming consumers, he said.
“When I sell a beef cow to someone before it’s slaughtered, they’re paying pennies on the dollar for what you could buy it for at Walmart.”
He continued, “Who can afford to buy half a beef or a whole beef? People with means.”
Meanwhile, people on fixed incomes are forced to buy a cut of beef when it’s at its most expensive – at Walmart.
“Why are we blocking folks that need a help up from shopping out of a rancher’s freezer?” Lindholm said.
“If people can buy half a beef, by God, they should be able to buy half a pound,” he added.
Lindholm said he believes the PRIME Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and soon to be reviewed by the U.S. Senate as part of the 2026 Farm Bill, could help lower prices for consumers while allowing ranchers to continue receiving fair prices.
The legislation would expand opportunities for smaller processors and local meat sales.
“That would be a stunning turn of events where Americans across the country have more access to beef — to locally raised protein more than ever before,” Lindholm previously told Cowboy State Daily. “And we wouldn’t be finding ways to create more dependence on other countries.
“If Trump really wants to lower prices, then he should get the regulations out of the way and let the states dictate their own futures,” he said.
Tight Supply To Continue
Roughly 29 billion pounds of beef is consumed in the U.S. About 20% of it is imported.
In 2026, the United States is projected to import a record six billion pounds of beef.
Sen. Lummis said in an emailed statement to Cowboy State Daily that any policy or tariff change "needs to ensure that ranchers are not undercut and put in a tougher economic situation."
According to Eisele, the cure for lower beef prices is simply time. He said he believes higher prices will attract people to invest in raising more cattle, as well as cause fewer people to buy it, until things reach a new equilibrium.
Supply is expected to keep tightening through 2026 and 2027 before any meaningful recovery, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
