08/27/2026
๐บ๐ธ AMERICA FIRST HAS TO INCLUDE THE AMERICAN FARMER ๐บ๐ธ
I support President Trump, I support his America First agenda, and I want Republicans to win the midterms. That is exactly why I think we need to be smart about this fight with Canada and foreign beef.
Canada has taken advantage of the United States on trade for years, and President Trump is right to demand a fair deal. But there is a difference between being tough and getting dragged into a trade war that hurts American farmers, raises prices, and gives Democrats a political weapon right before November.
Canada knows exactly what it is doing with retaliatory tariffs. They are targeting American industries and farm states because they want our people hurting and blaming Republicans before Election Day.
We should not play into their hands.
The same goes for importing more foreign beef to bring grocery prices down.
I understand the goal. Beef prices are too high and American families are tired of getting hammered at the grocery store.
But we cannot say AMERICA FIRST and then turn around and undercut the American cattleman with foreign beef.
Our cattle herd is already at historic lows. Ranchers have spent years dealing with drought, high feed costs, high interest rates, regulations, and a meatpacking industry controlled by a handful of huge companies.
The answer is not to make the American cattleman compete with a flood of cheaper foreign beef.
The answer is to rebuild AMERICAN beef production.
Go after unfair meatpacking practices. Cut regulations that are killing smaller processors. Expand American processing capacity. Make it easier for ranchers to rebuild their herds. Require clear country-of-origin labeling so Americans know whether the beef they are buying was raised here or shipped in from somewhere else.
And with Canada, negotiate from strength.
Target the unfair trade practices instead of creating a broad trade war that hurts our own farmers and manufacturers. Use the power of the American market to force a fair deal, but make sure the deal strengthens America instead of creating unnecessary economic pain at home.
Republicans also need to remember the political reality.
We have a midterm election coming.
Democrats would love nothing more than to spend the fall pointing at higher prices, struggling farmers, and lost export markets and blaming President Trump and Republicans for all of it.
Donโt hand them that weapon.
Be tough on Canada.
Protect the American consumer.
But above all, protect the American farmer, rancher, worker, and manufacturer.
America First means AMERICANS FIRST.
That ought to include the people who grow our food and raise our beef. ๐บ๐ธ
Dennis W Futch
Chairman