American ranchers are confronting the smallest cattle herd in 75 years. On Friday, President Trump announced he would waive beef tariffs on imported ground beef for 90 days, aiming to lower beef prices and help rebuild the U.S. herd.
WILLIAMSPORT, Tenn. – The nation’s cattle inventory has fallen to its lowest level since the 1950s, prompting the Trump administration to unveil a plan to cut beef prices and restore herd numbers.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that higher tariffs on beef imports would be suspended for three months, allowing 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef to enter the market at roughly 25 % below current prices. USDA Choice beef averaged $10.49 per pound in August.
“This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
According to the USDA, the United States began 2026 with 86.2 million cattle and calves—the smallest herd since the 1950s—down from roughly 94.7 million in 2019.
TRUMP’S FOREIGN BEEF PUSH TO CUT GROCERY COSTS SPARKS GOP REVOLT FROM RANCHING COUNTRY
The USDA confirmed that the U.S. cattle inventory stood at 86.2 million head at the start of 2026, marking the lowest level since the 1950s. (FOX / Fox News)
Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, expressed disappointment with the administration’s move.
“While U.S. cattle producers want affordable groceries, inundating the market with taxpayer‑subsidized, below‑market beef will not revive the domestic herd,” Woodall stated.
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, warned that the waiver could push beef imports up by roughly 60 % over the next three months.
“We appreciate the president’s goal of reducing grocery costs, but short‑term measures could have long‑term negative effects for consumers and ranchers deciding whether to keep or expand their herds. Greater reliance on foreign‑produced beef may ultimately raise grocery prices and jeopardize U.S. food security. We urge the president to reconsider this approach,” Duvall said.
Ranchers nationwide cite a variety of challenges contributing to the declining herd. (FOX / Fox News)
Travis Maddock, a North Dakota rancher, said drought remains the primary obstacle for Midwest producers.
“There’s an appetite for expansion, but we are in a drought,” Maddock said. “Some of my fellow producers that I’ve spoken with, they’re going to hold off a year.”
TRUMP ALLOWS 300,000 METRIC TONS OF TARIFF-FREE BEEF IMPORTS IN BID TO CUT PRICES, DRAWING RANCHER BACKLASH
In the Southeast, producers confront a different set of challenges.
Trevor Pennington, a cattle producer near Williamsport, Tennessee, explained that excessive rainfall has hampered operations.
“While rain is usually beneficial for agriculture, excess precipitation prevents us from harvesting hay,” Pennington said. “As a result, livestock miss out on essential nutrients from forage.”
A Middle Tennessee rancher noted that relentless rain has kept fields too wet to cut hay. (FOX News / Fox News)
Pennington added that rapid urban sprawl is pressuring Tennessee farmers, prompting many to sell their land for profit.
“The next generation doesn’t want to take on that workload,” Pennington said. “At the end of the day, if a farmer wants to leave something to his family, the best case for him is probably to sell his land and leave the money to his family.”
Pennington noted that raising a cow from birth to slaughter typically requires about two years, meaning that restoring the national herd could span a decade.
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