Can Trump's Big Beef Plan Fix Dinner Plates?

Hey, have you checked your grocery receipt lately? That pack of ground beef that used to set you back five bucks now hits closer to seven. Beef prices in the US have jumped nearly 14% in the past year, turning backyard barbecues into wallet workouts. And with President Trump back in the spotlight, he's got a bold idea to tame those costs—but it's already stirring up a storm in cattle country.

It started earlier this month, around October 16, when Trump announced his team was hunting for ways to bring beef prices down. Roughly by October 22, he began posting on Truth Social, arguing that ranchers should forgo the benefits of his import tariffs and reduce prices at the store. The real kicker came on October 23: the White House revealed plans to quadruple beef imports from Argentina, letting in way more at lower duties.

Ground beef prices climbed 12.9% over the last year, and steaks? Up 16.6%, according to fresh numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Blame it on brutal droughts that scorched pastures from Texas to Kansas, forcing farmers to sell off herds and spike feed costs. The US cattle count dipped another 1% this year, the smallest in decades.

For families scraping by, it's not just about flavor—it's fuel for the weekly meal plan. Ranchers such as Mike Callicrate in St. Francis, Kansas, finally posted a profit after difficult years, but worry that a surge of imported beef could undermine their gains. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, usually in Trump's corner on trade, called the move chaotic, saying it won't touch supermarket shelves much. Economists nod along: more imports might nudge wholesale prices, but rebuilding herds takes seasons, not headlines.

Trump's push also ties into broader efforts, like USDA plans announced that same week to expand grazing lands and boost the national herd. Ranchers feel betrayed, yet consumers cheer any dip.

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