NDFB President issues beef import statement

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August 21, 2026

Topic: Issues

The following statement was issued today from NDFB President Val Wagner on the proposed increase in beef imports:

BISMARCK, ND - North Dakota Farm Bureau President Val Wagner, a farmer and rancher from Monango, issued the following statement in response to President Trump's plan to allow an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef imports over the next 90 days:

"North Dakota Farm Bureau is extremely disappointed with President Trump's plan to flood the American market with over six hundred sixty-one million pounds of foreign-raised beef. The U.S. is already importing beef at record levels, and this decision would be an unprecedented move, translating to nearly an additional 60% increase in imports over the next 90 days.

"North Dakota's cattle producers have been working to rebuild their herds through several years of drought, harsh conditions, and an ongoing input-cost crisis. Despite persistently high beef prices in grocery stores, prices paid to farmers and ranchers for their cattle have fallen sharply in recent weeks, while the costs of raising cattle have seen no relief. Flooding markets with foreign products does not meaningfully lower what consumers pay at checkout. History and recent experience have been consistent: short-term import surges reduce the prices received by domestic producers without providing relief to consumers.

"This measure will accomplish nothing but to undercut a fragile recovery for producers and threaten the long-term supply of American-raised beef. Growing dependence on foreign-grown food could ultimately lead to higher grocery costs and greater reliance on other nations for our food security. The President must reverse course and focus on policies that support North Dakota and American cattle producers as they work to feed America and expand the herd for future generations."