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Cattle grazing in a pasture with an windmill pumping water in the foreground. Deposit Photos
Cattle grazing in a pasture with an windmill pumping water in the foreground. Deposit Photos
Polis warns Trump beef plan would hurt Colorado ranchers
ColoradoBiz Staff //October 28, 2025//
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Monday criticized President Donald Trump‘s plan to buy large quantities of Argentine beef, saying the move would hurt Colorado ranchers and the U.S. beef industry.
In Brief:
- Gov. Jared Polis said Trump’s plan to buy Argentine beef would damage Colorado’s cattle industry.
- Polis urged labeling of imported beef to show its country of origin.
- Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg said imports would undercut Colorado ranchers and reduce cattle prices.
- Beef exports total $1.3 billion annually and are key to Colorado’s agricultural economy.
“If the president floods the market with Argentinian beef, he will crush hardworking Colorado farmers and ranchers,” Polis said. He called the proposal “thoughtless,” citing a recent bailout for Argentina during a government shutdown and saying the decision would harm U.S. producers as families face hunger and rising health care costs.
Polis said any foreign beef purchased should be labeled with its country of origin so consumers know whether they are buying American-raised or international beef.
Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg said importing cheaper Argentine beef would undercut Colorado producers, reduce cattle prices and complicate long-term planning. “Colorado producers are leading in stewardship and sustainability, and our high standards for animal husbandry and quality are what consumers truly want,” Greenberg said. She added that federal actions and the timing of import announcements worsen challenges for domestic producers and affect efforts to rebuild herds and receive fair prices.
Colorado reported $1.3 billion in beef exports in 2024 and ranks fifth nationally for beef exports, according to the governor’s office. Beef is among the state’s largest exports and is a major driver of its agricultural economy.
Nationwide, the United States exported $10.45 billion in beef and beef products in 2024. Top markets included Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Japan, and China, countries that have faced on-again, off-again tariffs under Trump policies. Colorado officials said other key agricultural sectors, including dairy, wheat and corn, also depend on export markets.
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