CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio) – Illinois cattle producers are pushing back on President Trump's plan to let ranchers process and sell their own beef, arguing it could weaken food safety standards without addressing falling cattle prices.
Trump announced Friday he's directing officials to draft new rules letting farmers process their own meat, saying it will break the grip of the nation's largest meatpacking companies. The move follows backlash over his separate decision to pause tariffs on imported ground beef.
Josh St. Peters of the Illinois Beef Association said the group supports helping ranchers but doesn't want to see inspections loosened.
"We think food safety is the most important aspect of our industry," St. Peters said. "That seal of inspection that's on beef product that you buy is critically important."
St. Peters also questioned whether the plan solves ranchers' real complaint: cheaper imported beef undercutting local producers.
"Is he expecting farmers to sell beef for less if they process it themselves?" he said. "You want me to do more work on my farm... but sell it at less price? That's not gonna work for family farmers anywhere."
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said new rules would begin rolling out Monday, including steps to expand ranchers' ability to sell beef across state lines.
