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Cattle Industry Divided Over Canadian Beef Imports

R-CALF USA President Leo McDonnell, at his bull testing and selling facility in Columbus, Mont. He says ranchers' voices are often drowned out by more powerful interests such as meat packers, food processors and retailers.
Greg Allen, NPR
R-CALF USA President Leo McDonnell, at his bull testing and selling facility in Columbus, Mont. He says ranchers' voices are often drowned out by more powerful interests such as meat packers, food processors and retailers.
Bill Donald, president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, in his calving barn in Melville, Mont. He says Canadian beef is safe and that a continued ban on Canadian cattle imports is unfair to Canadians and U.S. consumers.
Greg Allen, NPR /
Bill Donald, president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, in his calving barn in Melville, Mont. He says Canadian beef is safe and that a continued ban on Canadian cattle imports is unfair to Canadians and U.S. consumers.

Nearly two years after the U.S. banned cattle imported from Canada because of mad cow disease, a federal judge recently postponed the U.S. Department of Agriculture's reopening of the border.

A U.S. ranchers group that brought the suit to stop reopened cattle trade with Canada says it is trying to protect the health of U.S. cattle and consumers. But others in the industry say the suit is meant to keep out competition.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

As NPR's Miami correspondent, Greg Allen reports on the diverse issues and developments tied to the Southeast. He covers everything from breaking news to economic and political stories to arts and environmental stories. He moved into this role in 2006, after four years as NPR's Midwest correspondent.