FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Farmers Union Statement on Increased Beef Imports
Nevada, IA – Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) President Aaron Lehman and National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew released the following statements after the Trump administration announced its plan to allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported into the United States with lower tariffs over the next 90 days.
“Iowa beef farmers are already squeezed by consolidated packers controlling the market,” said Lehman. “Opening the door to cheap imports while hiding where beef comes from is a gift to monopoly meatpackers, not farmers. Country-of-origin labeling is a common sense solution. Consumers want to know where their meat comes from and farmers deserve a fair market.”
“Consumers deserve to know where their beef comes from, and American farmers and ranchers deserve credit for raising it,” said Larew. “Imported beef is just a handout for monopoly meatpackers, who can mix cheap imported beef with American beef and pocket the difference, with no guarantee consumers ever see lower prices or ranchers see fair ones. Mandatory country-of-origin labeling fixes that: it holds packers accountable and lets the market work honestly for everyone. The Senate Agriculture Committee has already taken steps to advance it. Congress should finish the job and pass this commonsense, bipartisan policy now.”
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