US Officials Propose Domestic Beef Industry Revival Amid Low Cattle Herd Levels

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has proposed a five-point plan aimed at supporting America's beef industry and reducing consumer beef prices, building on a recent USDA initiative under President Trump and Secretary Brooke Rollins. Miller's plan emphasizes rejecting increased imports of lower-quality Argentine beef, which he argues mainly serves the hamburger market and does not benefit higher-quality cuts or the domestic industry. He also calls for reversing the $48 billion agricultural trade deficit by boosting American beef production and exports, reopening and expanding grazing access on federal and private lands, and creating a tax credit to help rebuild the U.S. cattle herd amid ongoing challenges like drought and high feed costs. These measures respond to a declining U.S. cattle herd, the lowest since 1951, which has been impacted by factors such as limited grazing land and high input costs. The plan reflects concerns that current policies and imports may hurt small ranchers and do not sufficiently address the root causes of high beef prices, despite efforts under the Trump administration to engage with cattle producers. Overall, Miller advocates for policies that prioritize domestic production and support for American ranchers over reliance on foreign beef imports.