LITTLE ROCK — U.S. Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner is urging Senator Tom Cotton to oppose a new federal plan that increases foreign beef imports, citing its potential harm to Arkansas farmers and ranchers.

The plan, announced by President Donald Trump on Friday, permits the import of 300,000 metric tons—or approximately 660 million pounds—of foreign ground beef into the United States without triggering higher tariffs. The move stirred immediate backlash from cattle producers, agriculture groups, and lawmakers in rural states, though Senator Cotton has not yet publicly commented on the issue.

Shoffner, a sixth-generation Arkansan and row crop farmer, criticized the policy, stating it would undermine local producers already struggling with high costs, drought, and historically low cattle herd numbers. "Arkansas families desperately need relief from high grocery prices. But President Trump’s plan to rely on foreign ground beef comes at the expense of American farmers and ranchers," Shoffner said.

She argued that flooding the market with cheaper foreign beef would drive down the prices paid to U.S. producers, making it harder for them to recover and rebuild their herds. Additionally, she warned against increasing dependence on imported food, advocating instead for systemic reforms to address challenges such as consolidation within the meatpacking industry and supply chain inefficiencies.

"Arkansans deserve food they can afford, and Arkansas farmers deserve a fair chance to keep producing it," Shoffner added. "We need lasting solutions that confront consolidation in the meatpacking industry, lower costs throughout the supply chain, and help American producers rebuild the cattle herd."

Shoffner called on Senator Cotton to clarify his position on the issue, saying: "Cotton should tell Arkansans whether he supports this plan. If he is serious about standing with Arkansas farmers and ranchers, he should join others speaking out."

Shoffner is running for the U.S. Senate, aiming to unseat Cotton in the upcoming election. She has framed her campaign around addressing issues she says directly affect the livelihoods of working Arkansans, with a platform focused on affordable living, sustainable agriculture, and improved infrastructure.