Will steak prices really go down if we get cow imports from Argentina?

The White House is now considering a policy of importing greater quantities of Argentine beef as a way of defusing prices.
https://terreneglobe.com/2025/10/23/argentine-beef-imports-to-lower-us-steak-prices/

Yes they will. We need time to rebuild the US herd

My concerns go a little deeper than price. Can we trust the usda (see: gov agency) to do their job and verify the quality of said meet? Label country of Origen, check for who knows what growth hormones? Origins of the feed supply ? Processing facilities ? Sorry I lack faith in the system. I get mine raised next door so there is that.

Mine won't because i get my meat from an Amish butcher he had beef during the covid crap so ill keep supporting him so when the crap hits the fan again ill have meat.

President is misguided.

Biggest cost of the beef is the processing plant. Next cost is the grain that the cattle are fed. When grain costs more than the steer is worth, you thin out your herd until things balance out. But hard for things to balance when you have only 4 major beef processors.
"The beef industry in America is dominated by just 4 major companies that control over 80% of beef production and processing. These “Beef Big 4” wield enormous power over cattle prices beef costs farmer incomes, and ultimately what ends up on your plate"
https://thekitchentoday.com/what-are-the-4-major-segments-of-the-beef-industry/

Imported processed beef is the answer or antitrust laws being enforced.

Also heard that small pork ranchers are being put out of business by the processors locking up the market via contracts. What do you do with your pigs if there's no one to buy your product cause you don't have a contract? Where is the "free" market to determine pricing? Same old business model, cut prices to the point the other competitors go out of business, then charge whatever you want.

Farmer Chris says "only industry where we (farmers) have to pay retail for our inputs and then have to sell our product at wholesale"

Some of it is SUPPLY, and much of it is PROCESSING.

The increase in the SUPPLY should, in theory, reduce the PROCESSING costs beause they should be able to scale up and process more efficiently, which means lower prices.

But there is plenty of blame to go around.

As for other's concerns, Argentina is know to have quality product. If we can access their beef, it could MARGINALLY lower our prices, or at lest hold them to reduce future hikes, and provide us with good qualify beef.

Went to my favorite local meat market to pick up a couple of Rib-Eyes to grille. $33.50 / lb. What the fuck? I went home empty handed. I know, you only live once, but I love burgers too.

Lets hope the Argentina beef is in the form of steaks and not just that horrible salt lick canned corned beef.

tiredretired said:

Went to my favorite local meat market to pick up a couple of Rib-Eyes to grille. $33.50 / lb. What the fuck? I went home empty handed. I know, you only live once, but I love burgers too.

Lets hope the Argentina beef is in the form of steaks and not just that horrible salt lick canned corned beef.

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Argentinian beef is high quality.

But $33.50 per pound is crazy for Rib-Eye

I happened to pull out a couple rib-eye's for dinner tonight.

I have a side of beef coming in next month, grown by a good friend, grain finished so nice & fat with beautiful marbling.

I was "thinking" about NOT getting a side this year as my son works for restaurants and can get beef at wholesale. I asked him to get pricing for me and when I saw that cheap steaks were $15-20/pound and hamburger was $7/pound WHOLESALE, I immediately ordered the side of beef.

The side will probably weigh 500# (hanging) which will put about 350# in the freezer. Cut, wrapped, frozen (+kill and other fees), I still got it for $5.50/pound!!! I'm loving it.

Melensdad said:

Argentinian beef is high quality.

But $33.50 per pound is crazy for Rib-Eye

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It is, but the local supermarkets are asking $25 / lb and quality is inconsistent. One day you might get a great cut and the next it will be tougher than a boiled owl. This meat market's quality is supurb but damn, I just could not pull the trigger for 75 bucks for two 16 oz steaks.

I ended up getting their thinly sliced top round for making Beef Braciole. Saves me the work of slicing it myself.

It’s $19.00 a pound for boneless ribeye at the local store, it has went up $3-$400 a pound over the last couple years. I have a deal with the butcher there, I get sale price when I buy the whole loin of what I get, normally ribeye and fillet.

There's a Texas Corral down the road. From Mo to Th, between 2p and 5p, they have a 20% old folks discount. I get the 16oz New York. Comes with a salad and a side. 29 bucks, so $23.20 cooked and delivered to the table. No dishes to clean! Steak is choice, not prime, but it's pretty good.

When traveling, we normally go to Texas Roadhouse for the early-bird specials. They have several choices, each is $10.99
I normally get a 6oz sirloin and 2 baked potatoes. That's about all I can eat in one sitting.

bczoom said:

When traveling, we normally go to Texas Roadhouse for the early-bird specials. They have several choices, each is $10.99
I normally get a 6oz sirloin and 2 baked potatoes. That's about all I can eat in one sitting.

Texas Roadhouse Early Dine Menu 2025: Full Meals $10.99

Enjoy full-size Texas Roadhouse meals for just $10.99 with the 2025 Early Dine Menu. Available Mon–Thurs, with select Saturday hours. Check local times.

texasroadhousemenuwithprices.com

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We go to texas roadhouse once in awhile. Always before 6pm but have never noticed the early bird special. Will have to check that out. Thanks.