DELAFIELD, Wis., September 13 — Beef imports into the United States are set to rise by nearly 60% over the next 90 days, and farmers in this Wisconsin town say that number lands directly on their bottom line. Dave Morris Farms has worked the land here since the 1940s, raising corn, soybeans and cattle. Jim Renn, with Dave Morris Farms LLC, said the shifting mix of tariffs and import policy has made input costs harder to plan for than ever.
“Much like anything in agriculture, we can’t predict the weather, we can’t predict the price, we can’t predict the income, so tariffs are another thing on that list that we can’t predict,” Renn said.
A payment timeline that resists budgeting
Farming is a family affair for Renn, and the family raises a variety of agricultural products. But he says the payment timeline itself makes budgeting difficult. Farmers often are not paid until after their products have already been processed or consumed — and by then, market prices may have shifted, changing the profit they ultimately receive.
Costs have moved too. Renn pointed to diesel fuel as probably the biggest expense, and said fertilizer costs for the crops “has been terrible and it doesn’t sound like it’s going to get any better.” Those increases can change a farmer’s yield and potentially how many acres they plan to farm.
Beef imports and the price question
On top of his crops, the United States is now importing more beef under a Trump-era policy. According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the U.S. is already importing beef at record levels. The decision translates to a nearly 60% increase in beef imports over the next 90 days.
The goal is to lower beef prices, but Renn says it’s not likely — and that it is impacting his bottom line. “Not quite a dollar but pretty close to a dollar less, so when you are talking about a 14-1500-pound steer, that’s a lot of money,” Renn said.
Renn says one reason beef is more expensive is environmental impact. Drought in the west and wildfires have caused cattle herds to dwindle. Those herds are starting to increase, but it takes time — the gestational period for a calf to be born takes nine months.
Talks with a Senate office, and what comes next
Renn recently sat down with staff from Republican Sen. Ron Johnson’s office. He says he is happy that the staff met with him to discuss the impact of the policy decisions being made, but he hopes it translates to change. “There is hope that we possibly can reverse some of it, but the hard part for us as farmers and ranchers is how do we keep those numbers up to rebuild that herd when that dollar amount goes down,” Renn said.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciates the President’s goal of reducing costs and securing fair trade, but says farmers and rural communities bear the brunt of these actions. Investors will note what to watch next: whether the 90-day import window delivers the lower beef prices it was designed to produce, and whether the herd rebuild Renn describes can gain ground while the price per steer is falling.
