A comment about buying more beef from Argentina made by President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One has rankled the cattle industry, upset members of his base and added fire to an effort to advance long-discussed meat packaging legislation.

The price of beef has skyrocketed 51% since 2020, though it’s mostly a demand for low-quality, imported meat, Montana ranchers have said . Legislation for improved “country-of-origin” labeling on beef is being discussed at the federal level, which advocates for ranchers and farmers say would help make the meat market more competitive.

Large packing companies sometimes combine and sell meat consumers think is American, advocates said, but in fact came from cattle not raised in the United States.

On Oct. 19, Trump suggested while flying ba

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