Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has unveiled a five-point plan to boost America’s beef industry while lowering consumer prices.
The proposal comes as beef prices have hit record highs, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The U.S. cattle herd is listed at 86.7 million head as of January 2025, the lowest count since 1951 and down 8% from its 2019 peak, a drop off reportedly driven by droughts, high feed costs, and less access to grazing land, per the USDA.
Miller’s plan responds to a recent USDA initiative under President Donald Trump and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, which he praised as a starting point but said requires further action to address Texas’ needs as the nation’s largest beef-producing state.
“I believe there are some additional steps that can be taken. I hope the Trump administration considers adding the following suggestions to their plan to more effectively reduce the price of beef and better support cattle producers and consumers across our country,” Miller said.
The plan from Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture includes the following:
1. Don’t Rely on Lower-Quality Argentinian Beef Imports. Miller cautioned against increasing imports of grass-fed Argentine beef, which is allegedly used primarily for hamburgers due to its lower quality. He argued that such imports fail to support higher-quality cuts like ribeyes and sirloins, and do not help strengthen the beef industry in the United States.
2. Reverse the Agricultural Trade Deficit, which currently sits at around $48 billion.
3. Reopen and Expand Grazing Access on Federal and Private Lands. Miller called for reversing former President Biden’s “30 by 30” plan, which stalled 24 million acres of federal grazing land, and expanded grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands. This would provide more pasture for cows, particularly amid the ongoing drought in the Southwest.
4. Create a Tax Credit to Rebuild the U.S. Cattle Herd. Introduce a “Heifer Retention Tax Credit” to rebuild the national cattle herd’s numbers. Miller has proposed a tax credit for “cow-calf operators” who retain heifers, allegedly incentivizing herd expansion and increasing beef supply at lower consumer prices.
5. Allow Targeted Imports of Live Mexican Cattle to Stabilize Supply. Miller suggested reopening ports for live Mexican feeder cattle, which typically account for 15% of America’s feeder cattle, to stabilize the overall supply. He mentioned that a controlled approach to prevent biosecurity risks would be necessary, including the ongoing New World screwworm fly problems, previously covered by DX.
Miller would go on to thank President Trump for engaging with producers and expressed optimism about future collaboration with Trump’s administration to lock in affordable, high-quality American beef for consumers.
“I have full confidence that President Trump will make the right calls to both lower beef prices for American families and strengthen the ranchers who feed this great nation,” Miller added.
Regardless, some experts predict herd recovery could take up to two years, per CNBC, even with favorable political policies in place.