The New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association says President Donald Trump’s decision to open the door to more beef imports sends the “wrong signal at the wrong time,” NM Political Report reports. The warning comes as ranchers enter culling season and prepare for the expensive winter feeding months.
Trump’s Aug. 26 executive order aims to bring cheaper beef to American consumers, including ground beef that could sell at a discount to current prices. The association says cheaper beef could mean cheaper cattle, and smaller checks would tighten cash flow just as producers weigh whether they can afford to keep heifers to rebuild herds after years of drought.
While criticizing the import order, the group praised the administration for reopening some cattle imports from Mexico after closing the border over fears of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite detected across Mexico and Central America. The association said protecting the health of the U.S. cattle herd must remain a priority, along with keeping ranchers, who are critical to rural communities, on the landscape.
Its bigger concern is consistency. Because raising cattle requires long-term investment, the association said ranchers need policy that lets them plan five years out instead of policy built around the next 90-day announcement.
About This Story
Daily Reports is Brant.One’s news roundup. Each day we gather the New Mexico stories worth knowing from newsrooms across the state, sum them up and point you to the source. This one comes from NM Political Report’s reporting, and their original story has the interviews and full details.
Editor’s note: Updated Oct. 31, 2026. This story is now part of Daily Reports, our New Mexico news roundup, and was revised to credit NM Political Report’s original reporting. Learn how Daily Reports works in our editorial standards.
