Agriculture groups across the United States want a lot more information before they’ll decide whether or not to support President Donald Trump’s plan to buy beef from Argentina in an attempt to lower the price of beef for U.S. consumers.
In South Dakota, Stockgrowers Association Executive Director Doris Lauing says importing Argentine beef won’t help American cattle producers, but it might prompt the implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling– or MCOOL– on all beef.
Conversely, South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Warren Symens from Amherst doesn’t think MCOOL would provide price relief in the retail meat case.
Ag groups aren’t the only people wanting more details from the President about his plan to buy some Argentine beef. Many U.S. Senators and Representatives do too. One of them is South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson.
South Dakota U.S. Senator Mike Rounds met with President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Tuesday (Oct. 21, 2025) to discuss the President’s plan to import some beef from Argentina. He said they agree the U.S. needs an America First game plan that prioritizes American farmers and ranchers. Following the meeting, Rounds said he’s “encouraged by the desire of President Trump and Secretary Rollins to do right by the American producer.”
Brian Bengs, an Independent candidate, is challenging South Dakota Republican U.S. Senator Mike Rounds in the Nov. 2026 general election. Bengs criticized the Trump Administration’s recent announcement that the U.S. would begin purchasing beef from Argentina to try to lower prices in the retail meat case at a time when family ranchers in South Dakota already face shrinking margins and volatile markets.
Trump’s proposal to purchase some beef from Argentina comes after the U.S. gave that country a $20-billion financial bailout, a deal Argentina’s central bank said was signed on Monday (Oct. 20, 2025).
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