Davids Calls on Trump Administration to Reverse Argentina Bailout, Protect Kansas Ranchers

Today, Representative Sharice Davids demanded President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins rethink their decision to spend $20 billion to bail out Argentina and increase beef imports from the country. She says bipartisanship is achievable, but not “while federal policies undercut our own producers in favor of foreign competitors.”

Most of Kansas’ congressional delegation, including Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and the state’s other three House members, has also expressed concern about how the President’s trade policies with Argentina could harm Kansas farmers and ranchers.

“Kansas is a proud cattle state. The Kansas beef industry generates $13.59 billion in output and supports more than 45,000 jobs — the largest sector of our state’s agricultural economy,” wrote Davids. “While I share your goal of lowering grocery prices, increasing imports of Argentinian beef at a time of record-high prices threatens these livelihoods, depresses cattle prices, and adds uncertainty for ranchers making critical business decisions.”

The administration’s plan includes a $20 billion bailout of Argentina’s government and expanded imports of Argentinian beef, despite warnings from industry experts that such policies would undercut U.S. producers. According to recent reports, U.S. farm bankruptcies have risen 60 percent this year, and American soybean exports to China have dropped to zero as Argentina fills the gap left by ongoing tariff disputes.

Davids noted that many Kansas family farms rely on cattle operations to offset crop losses from low grain prices, and additional pressure from foreign imports could devastate rural economies. As Davids notes, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association warns this plan “undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers.”

“If the administration is serious about putting ‘America First,’ the choice is clear: reverse the Argentina bailout and invest in the Kansas farmers and ranchers who actually feed this country,” Davids continued. “American farmers and ranchers have always met their responsibilities — they deserve a government that does the same.”

Reckless tariffs have forced many Kansas producers to pay higher costs for equipment and materials while reducing access to international markets for crops and livestock. Similarly, cuts to USAID programs disrupt food-aid delivery abroad, which in turn affects demand for U.S. agricultural products. Davids has been a consistent advocate for fair-trade policies that hold foreign actors accountable while protecting U.S. competitiveness, and has joined Senator Moran in sounding the alarm.

Read Davids’ full letter here or below:

Dear President Trump and Secretary Rollins, 

I am writing on behalf of Kansans who are deeply concerned by your recent announcement to spend $20 billion to bail out Argentina and increase beef imports from the country. This decision comes at a time when Kansas farmers and ranchers are already facing severe economic pressures caused by reckless tariffs.

As you know, Kansas is a proud cattle state. The Kansas beef industry generates $13.59 billion in output and supports more than 45,000 jobs — the largest sector of our state’s agricultural economy. While I share your goal of lowering grocery prices, increasing imports of Argentinian beef at a time of record-high prices threatens these livelihoods, depresses cattle prices, and adds uncertainty for ranchers making critical business decisions.

Even the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association warns this plan “undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers.” Beef prices are currently high due to factors like drought and the cyclical nature of the cattle cycle. Ranchers need certainty to make long term decisions and increase the size of the domestic cattle herd. 

American farmers are already struggling: 181 filed for bankruptcy in the first half of the year, a 60 percent increase. The reckless tariffs have caused China to stop buying U.S. soybeans, leading to oversupply and depressed prices, while wheat, corn, rice, and cotton prices have also fallen. 

Many family farms rely on cattle to offset crop losses — but while your administration bails out Argentina, that country has taken over America’s soybean exports to China, with U.S. shipments falling to zero last month from 1.7 million metric tons a year earlier. Added uncertainty in the cattle market only worsens the strain.

If the administration is serious about putting “America First,” the choice is clear: reverse the Argentina bailout and invest in the Kansas farmers and ranchers who actually feed this country. I am ready to work across the aisle to support policies, including some outlined in Secretary Rollins’ recent beef plan, that lower grocery prices and protect family farms, but that cannot happen while federal policies undercut our own producers in favor of foreign competitors.

American farmers and ranchers have always met their responsibilities — they deserve a government that does the same. I urge you to act in the best interests of Kansas, rural America, and our nation’s agricultural future.

Sincerely,