Media Statement - Aug. 21

Posted 08/21/2026

North Dakota Stockmen's Association President Randy Schmitt, a Rugby, N.D., cow-calf producer, issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social about subsidized beef imports:

"The North Dakota Stockmen's Association is deeply disappointed by the President's statement on Truth Social today. North Dakota cattle producers understand the importance of affordable food for American families, but using government-subsidized, below-market, foreign beef to influence prices is not a realistic solution and undermines the very producers working to rebuild the nation's cattle herd and who put high-quality beef on families' tables.

Cattle markets have already reacted sharply to today's announcement, creating additional uncertainty for farmers and ranchers at a critical time of year, when producers are making important decisions about their herds and future investments and marketing their calfcrops.

The beef industry responds to strong demand and market signals. Policies that disrupt those signals or create additional uncertainty discourage herd expansion and investment at precisely the time the industry needs stability.

We urge the president and policymakers to focus on solutions that strengthen America's cattle industry, support producers and provide consumers with a reliable, affordable food supply for the long term, not knee-jerk measures that jeopardize the future of cattle production.

The cattle industry needs markets that are allowed to function without unnecessary government intervention. Allowing markets to work provides the clearest path for producers to respond to consumer demand and strengthen the domestic supply. Artificially manipulating prices creates greater uncertainty and economic harm."