The U.S. cattle herd remains at its lowest level in decades, leaving beef supplies historically tight and raising questions about when producers will begin expanding their herds. While economists often point to cattle prices, forage conditions, and producer profitability as key factors in rebuilding the herd, R-CALF USA says trade policy and imported beef also play a significant role.
R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard says the United States has steadily increased its reliance on imported beef over the past several decades, reducing opportunities for domestic cattle producers.
Bullard says imported beef now accounts for a much larger share of the beef consumed in the United States than it did in 1980. He argues that growth has displaced domestic production and increased the country’s dependence on foreign suppliers.
Bullard says relying more heavily on imported beef also exposes the U.S. food supply to risks outside the nation’s control, including geopolitical conflicts and animal health issues that can disrupt trade.
Bullard says those trends have coincided with significant consolidation across the cattle industry, with fewer producers and fewer independent feedlots remaining in business than a generation ago.
Bullard says rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd will require policies that encourage domestic beef production and reduce reliance on imported beef. He argues those changes would help strengthen the nation’s long-term beef supply and provide more opportunities for American cattle producers.
