U.S. Congresswoman Kat Cammack speaking with attendees at the 2022 Young Women's Leadership Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.
President Donald Trump announced that he'd boost foreign beef imports in the United States as part of an effort to lower prices, but it's dragging down Republicans running for election in 2026, Politico reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the heartland cattle ranchers aren't the only ones angry about Trump inserting himself into their business. Florida cattle country is complaining that Trump's latest move is delivering a blow to them during an affordability crisis.
Politico reported that Florida lawmakers are begging Trump to help their ranchers or there might be some election consequences for GOP officials.
“Without a doubt, it has not been helpful in keeping our ranchers and farmers engaged,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, the only Florida Republican on the House Ag Committee. “Do I think that they will vote Democrat? No. But I think we do risk them staying home, and that is a problem.”
Trump removed tariffs on "300,000 metric tons of imported lean beef trimmings" for now until around Thanksgiving, the report explained. Critics fear that the imports won't necessarily reduce grocery prices significantly while still weakening domestic producers.
“You’ve got to have some imports. There’s just no way around it,” said central Florida rancher Scott Ramsey, who voted for Trump. “But for this deal … that’s kind of like a slap in the face to us as a producer.”
Florida Republican Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has concerns about beef quality amid a significant reduction in U.S. FDA inspections of foreign facilities.
As ProPublica reported, by the end of July 2025 FDA inspections of foreign food facilities were nearly 30 percent lower than during comparable periods in the previous two years, reaching the lowest level in years.
“It’s … one more hurdle that we have to get over,” said Simpson, whom Trump endorsed. “And I just think that’s wrong for the American farmer, and yet especially the small and young farmers that are just trying to get started.”
Politico also reported that prices have already fallen by $500 per head at the Okeechobee Livestock Market, which is located in Florida's top cattle-producing county. It's about a 30 percent loss. September is the top season for cattle ranchers to bring calves to market.
“It hit us at the worst time possible,” said Audra Clemons, the president of the Florida Association of Livestock Markets.
“Ranchers make breeding, land-management and financial decisions months or years in advance,” said Florida Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Dusty Holley in an email. “It becomes more difficult to plan when they do not know what the next government action or announcement might be or how it could affect their market.”
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