Stitt creates council to advise Oklahoma on federal beef-import policy
The council will recommend steps to protect cattle producers and strengthen an industry that includes 4.65 million cattle and calves statewide.
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order Tuesday creating the Oklahoma Beef Industry Advisory Council to recommend ways to protect and grow the state’s beef industry.
The council will be chaired by Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur and include leaders in cattle production, beef processing, agricultural economics, and market development. Its recommendations will be made public.
The order follows a federal action that temporarily expanded tariff-free imports of lean beef trimmings from Argentina. The White House proclamation added 80,000 metric tons to the 2026 tariff-rate quota, divided among four quarterly import periods. The administration said the additional supply was intended to reduce pressure on ground-beef prices.
Stitt said the federal policy risks undercutting American cattle producers. He met with Arthur and Oklahoma producers before signing the order to discuss market conditions and ideas for strengthening the industry.
Oklahoma is home to 4.65 million cattle and calves, including nearly 2 million beef cows, according to the Governor’s Office.
