JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) - Talk of importing beef from Argentina is raising concern among Iowa cattle producers and local meat markets who say even the discussion alone can shake up an already fragile industry.

One local producer argues that adding imported beef to the mix could further unsettle a market already facing volatility and tight supply.

“It’s just the word about potentially bringing in Argentine beef that’ll send a shock wave through the marketplace,” said eastern Iowa cattle farmer Steve Swenka, describing how markets dropped sharply twice in one week after the news broke. “Where you fall in that roller-coaster ride could be the difference between profit and loss.”

Swenka says U.S. beef producers operate under some of the most rigorous safety and animal-welfare standards

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