Is President’s Imported Beef Up To South Dakota Standards?

South Dakota is cattle country, so the idea of bringing in tons of imported ground beef has really gotten the attention of local ranchers and beef lovers.

The quality of the imported ground beef remains uncertain because the Trump administration has not publicly identified the source countries or specific companies involved.

We have no idea where it is coming from.

The plan calls for temporarily lifting tariffs on up to 300,000 metric tons (661,386,787 pounds) of ground beef in an effort to help lower grocery prices.

That has sparked a debate over whether cheaper imported beef will actually compare with beef produced by South Dakota ranchers.

American cattle producers and some lawmakers have expressed concerns about the plan.

Critics argue that bringing large quantities of lower-priced beef into the United States could put additional pressure on domestic cattle producers who are already dealing with higher costs and tight supplies.

There are also questions about quality, which means consumers shouldn't automatically assume imported beef is unsafe simply because it comes from another country.

For South Dakota consumers, the bigger question may be what kind of beef are you buying and where did it come from?

South Dakota-raised beef has a strong reputation, and many local consumers prefer knowing their beef was raised by American ranchers.