Gov. Evers Urges Trump Administration to Support American Producers and Ranchers, Back Off Plans to Import Beef from Argentina

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 purchasing additional beef from other countries, and some farmers have said, “it feels like a slap in the face to rural America.” The plans have also seen bipartisan opposition from members of Congress, including from Wisconsin’s congressional delegation and members of President Trump’s own party.

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, from soybeans to dairy to ginseng. This includes, most recently, when farmers lost their biggest soybean buyer, China—which bought over $12 billion worth of soybeans in 2024—to South America.

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
Governor

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON GOV. EVERS’ EFFORTS TO SUPPORT WISCONSIN FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

Gov. Evers, over the past six years, has secured critical investments for farmers, producers, and their families, including supporting the state’s meat and dairy producers, investing in farmer mental health resources, and bolstering Wisconsin’s exports worldwide.

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:

• $1 million to bolster and support the Meat Processor Grant Program;
• $800,000 to increase the available funding for the successful Dairy Processor Grant Program;
• Over $2.4 million over the biennium for the Meat Inspection Program to ensure meat products are produced safely and match nutrition labels;
• $20 million to create a new state program designed to support dairy and agriculture resilience;
• $150 million to continue support for the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program, created by Gov. Evers in the 2023-25 biennium, ensuring the ongoing improvement of Wisconsin’s rural roads to help farmers and producers and the state’s agricultural and forestry industries move products to market safely and efficiently;
  • $30 million of the $150 million secured for ARIP will be specifically targeted to bridge and culvert repair to help improve and repair deteriorating bridges across the state.
• $10 million to continue the Food Security Initiative, a program created by Gov. Evers that connects local nonprofit food assistance programs, such as food pantries, with local producers to keep shelves stocked;
• $3 million to continue the Tribal Elder Food Security program that helps Tribal elders access nutritious, culturally-relevant food while supporting Wisconsin producers;
• $200,000 to support farmers and their families’ mental health;
• $500,000 to increase funding for the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, which helps enable producers and producer-led groups to implement nonpoint source pollution abatement strategies to improve Wisconsin’s soil and water quality;
• $2 million to continue the commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program, which aims to protect vital soil and water resources; and
• An additional $1.6 million to support the cover crop insurance program, which helps assist farmers with rebates of $5 per acre of a cover crop planted for crop insurance premiums paid on those acres.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.