Farmers and ranchers welcome the administration’s announcement of $8 billion in relief through the Harvest Fuel Relief program to help farmers struggling with high diesel prices. We appreciate President Trump and Secretary Rollins recognizing that higher diesel prices have squeezed farmers’ bottom lines. By building on the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, USDA will be able to quickly deliver this relief to farm country. We look forward to working with the president and USDA to ensure specialty crop growers, livestock producers, fishermen and others get the support they need so they can continue growing the food America’s families rely on. We also value the president’s continued support for Congress passing a modernized farm bill, allowing year-round E15 and addressing agriculture’s labor needs.

I had the important opportunity today to speak with President Trump after the Oval Office event to let him know that the plan to increase beef imports is hurting farm families. I shared with him that we have witnessed significant price drops for cattle across the country. It has caused a setback to rebuilding the U.S. herd. We’ll continue to urge the administration to reverse the decision to increase imports before cattle prices fall further. America’s beef producers were the focus of today’s meeting at the White House. Among the topics covered under the executive orders is a call for an interagency review of mandatory country of origin labeling for beef. Farm Bureau policy supports voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) that conforms with COOL parameters and meets World Trade Organization requirements. We appreciate the president’s support for small processors by exploring new opportunities and expanded inspection access. Creating competition benefits both ranchers and consumers. The executive order also recognizes advances made in the recovery of Mexican and gray wolves in the United States. Farmers and ranchers share a commitment to healthy wildlife populations, and we support updated status reviews. The ESA is designed to help protect and recover species, and when populations recover, we should celebrate those successes and give oversight to the states for continued responsible management.

Renewable fuels have been a tremendous success story for the country and the rural economy. They reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil, lower prices at the pump for consumers, support farm income, and provide good-paying jobs in rural America. While we have concerns about granting any small refinery exemptions that undercut a strong domestic biofuels market for farmers, we are pleased to see EPA’s commitment to 100% reallocation of exempted volumes before the end of October.

The President’s plan to facilitate record imports of beef will have a significant impact on farmers and ranchers who are rebuilding their herds devastated by droughts. Allowing 300,000 metric tons—equivalent to more than 660 million pounds—of foreign beef into the United States at a 25% discount “below market prices” will undermine America’s ranchers who work tirelessly to grow food for American families. We urge the President to reconsider his plan to flood the market with foreign beef.

Canada has been one of the most important trading partners for U.S. agriculture since our first free trade agreement in 1989. We are concerned that talks with our northern neighbor around a resolution to Section 338 tariffs have fallen apart in the midst of the USMCA review. We strongly urge the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table and find a resolution.

Farmers and ranchers are extremely disappointed to learn that President Trump plans to flood the American market with millions of pounds of foreign raised beef. We appreciate the goal of reducing grocery costs, but short-term measures could have long-term effects.