| New Trump plans threaten livelihoods of Wisconsin farmers and producers who are already grappling with economic volatility and reckless trade wars |
| MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers is urging President Trump and the Trump Administration to support and protect the livelihoods of American farmers, ranchers, and producers and back off its plans to import beef from Argentina. In a new letter to the Trump Administration today, Gov. Evers raised alarm about the significant impacts President Trump’s proposed policy will have on farmers and cattle producers across the nation in the Badger State, where the livestock and meat is a $34 billion industry employing more than 43,000 people.
The Trump Administration decision, which has already drawn strong opposition, comes as the U.S. beef cow herd is currently the smallest in national history, caused by several years of drought and increased feed costs, coupled with increasing economic volatility caused by President Trump’s erratic tariffs and trade wars. In response, several groups including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Farmers Union, and the American Farm Bureau Federation, have voiced strong opposition to The governor’s letter comes as farmers and producers and their livelihoods in Wisconsin and across the country continue to be impacted by President Trump and the Trump Administration’s erratic tariff taxes and reckless trade wars affecting some of Wisconsin’s most valuable agricultural exports, A copy of the governor’s letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is available here. A transcript of the letter is available below. Dear Secretary Rollins: As governor of the state of Wisconsin, which is home to a more than $34 billion livestock and meat industry, I’m writing today to urge you to immediately reverse any attempts to import additional beef from Argentina. Reporting indicates that President Trump and your administration are planning to drastically increase the amount of beef purchased from Argentina, as much as quadruple the typical amount. At a time with reckless trade wars that are causing chaos and uncertainty for farmers and producers in Wisconsin and across our country, now is not the time to turn your back on them. Now is the time to focus on supporting American farmers and producers and reinvest in our country’s agriculture industry, instead of subsidizing farmers halfway across the world. As you know, the U.S. beef cow herd is currently the smallest in our nation’s history, and there are numerous reasons for that. For example, U.S. farmers have been facing multiple years of drought and have endured challenging economic conditions. In this moment, the Trump Administration must join our state-led efforts in supporting American producers as they build their herds, not subsidize other countries by unnecessarily increasing imports. Wisconsin is home to thousands of cattle producers and dairy farmers, and each has an important role in bringing beef to the marketplace. Beef imports are already at an all-time high bringing in ample supply of needed products, such as lean trim, and we do not need to purchase more.
USDA’s Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry released last week does not address this significant misstep by the Trump administration, which is disappointing. Rather than needlessly increasing beef imports to the detriment of U.S. farmers, USDA should be addressing the trade imbalance. We must focus on supporting families that need food assistance at the grocery store and not contribute to the economies of other countries through foreign purchases. And we need to focus on protecting the nation’s cattle by maintaining strong biosecurity measures to ensure we protect the quality and safety of America’s food supply from diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and New World Screwworm. I encourage you to stand by American cattle producers and listen to their voices. Groups such as the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, the National Farmers Union, and the American Farm Bureau Federation have shared their opposition to purchasing additional beef from other countries and stand ready to work together to develop alternative solutions. I urge you to reconsider and instead follow Wisconsin’s lead and work collaboratively to develop ways to encourage domestic beef production and safeguard long-term food security. Thank you for your immediate attention to this important matter. Respectfully, Tony Evers ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON GOV. EVERS’ EFFORTS TO SUPPORT WISCONSIN FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES
Building upon efforts of the Evers Administration to date to support Wisconsin’s $116 billion agricultural industry and proud heritage as “America’s Dairyland,” the 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers this summer provides:
|
| An online version of this release is available here. |
Gov. Evers Urges Trump Administration to Support American Producers and Ranchers, Back Off Plans to Import Beef from Argentina
By Joanna Guza
Oct 29, 2025 | 12:45 PM

Tennis-Swiatek swats aside Keys for winning start at WTA Finals
4h ago
Russia denounces 'excessive' US military force in Caribbean, backs Venezuela
55m ago
Egypt opens colossal new antiquities museum after two-decade wait
1h ago
Two more charged in connection with Louvre jewel heist
1h ago
Germany will agree on military service in time for 2026, minister says
2h ago
Pilots union gives Lufthansa time to resolve pensions dispute, averting possible strike
2h ago
Current Weather
Sheboygan, WI, USA
46 °F Overcast



Comments