The Fox News Rundown Extra: Why Are Beef Prices So High?
Nov 2, 2025
Trent Simmons, a Texas cattle rancher and partner at Family 2S Ranch, discusses the complexities of the cattle industry and rising beef prices. He shares insights on President Trump's consideration of Argentine beef imports, highlighting potential short-term relief but warning against long-term impacts on American ranchers. Simmons also emphasizes the importance of regenerative farming practices, which can enhance soil health and lower costs over time, and urges for easing USDA restrictions to boost competition in slaughterhouse capacity.
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Beef Prices Reflect Long-Term Cost Catch-Up
- U.S. cattle prices have finally risen closer to ranchers' long-term costs after decades of input inflation.
- Trent Simmons says current prices (around $380–$520 per hundredweight) restore margins many ranchers desperately needed.
Imports Won't Fix Structural Problems
- Importing more beef from Argentina may ease consumer pain briefly but won't solve structural agricultural problems.
- Simmons calls the core issues ecological and biological, not solely economic, so imports are a short-term fix.
Ranch Adapted By Cutting Input Dependencies
- Simmons describes how his ranch reduced dependency on expensive inputs like fuel and fertilizer to survive cost spikes.
- He credits tariffs for helping some costs but stresses local operational changes kept his ranch viable.
