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In today's issue:

▪ Anxiety returns over military pay

▪ Canada trade talks called off

▪ SNAP benefits latest shutdown flash point

▪ Trump and Xi have a date

President Trump is facing a growing political problem in America’s agricultural heartland, as he looks to import Argentinian beef to help bring down prices for U.S. grocery shoppers.

The Trump administration is reportedly looking to quadruple low-tariff imports from Argentina, raising the quota to 80,000 metric tons per year. The news has enraged America’s beef farmers — and the Republican senators who represent them.

“This isn’t the way to do it,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said of Trump’s efforts to drive down prices. “It’s created a lot of uncertainty in that market. So I’m hoping that the White House has gotten the message.”

Sen. Deb Fischer (Neb.), a Republican member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said Tuesday she has “deep concerns” over the import plan.

“Bottom line: if the goal is addressing beef prices at the grocery store, this isn’t the way. Right now, government intervention in the beef market will hurt our cattle ranchers,” she said in a social media post.

▪ Semafor: Thune breaks with Trump on Argentine beef

▪ The Hill: What states export the most beef?

▪ Reuters: Trump to quadruple Argentine beef imports while US ranchers fume

As of July, the average price of ground beef was $6.25 per pound, up 71 cents since January, while steak prices hit an all-time high of $11.88 per pound, up almost a dollar since Trump’s return to office, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data.

Various factors are likely to blame: from years of drought and low cattle prices to Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, another major beef exporter, and a flesh-eating pest that has throttled Mexico’s beef exports.

Economists say the increased purchases from Argentina, which account for about 2 percent of beef imports, would not have a significant impact on prices. But that hasn’t stopped the cattle lobby from fuming.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF) are among the farming groups that have blasted the import plan.

“We love you and support you — but your suggestion to buy beef from Argentina to stabilize beef prices would be an absolute betrayal to the American cattle rancher,” Wyoming-based Meriwether Farms wrote on the social platform X, addressing Trump.

"Unfortunately we have an administration that thinks they have to lower the price of beef," Mark McHargue, the president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, posted on X. "Nebraska Farm Bureau is adamantly opposed to anything that would artificially lower the price of beef ... quite frankly we need this bright spot in Nebraska."

Trump on Tuesday hit back at criticism from cattle farmers.

“If it weren’t for me, they would be doing just as they’ve done for the past 20 years — Terrible! It would be nice if they would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump has also said the import plan would help Argentina, as he seeks to brighten the political prospects of the country’s president, Javier Milei, who faces a crucial election next week.

“If we buy some beef now — I’m not talking about that much — from Argentina, it would help Argentina, which we consider a very good country, a very good ally,” Trump told reporters Sunday on Air Force One.

▪ The Washington Post: Frustration grows over Trump bailout of Argentina

▪ Scripps News: 'It's been really hard': Tariffs, drought push US beef prices to record highs

3 Things to........

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