Daybreak March 23: Agri-Pulse summit features Zeldin, lawmakers

Farm-state Dems say Argentina beef measure brings volatility, not lower prices

Two Ag Committee Democrats will argue to President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins today that recent efforts to increase imports of Argentinian beef will do little to lower prices while spurring market volatility.

Last month, the administration temporarily increased a tariff-rate quota for Argentinian beef for 2026 by 80,000 metric tons.

“Only two percent of imported beef came from Argentina in 2024, and economists indicate higher imports are unlikely to reduce prices meaningfully, though they may boost margins for major food companies,” Reps. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., and Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., write in a letter shared exclusively with Agri-Pulse.

The announcement, they argue, is “increasing market volatility at a time when American producers need support, not sabotage.”

Take note:

During the recent House farm bill markup, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed concern over the administration’s decision to increase imports of Argentinian beef.