Stephenville, Texas - President Donald Trump's policy, designed to lower beef prices, is angering Texas' ranchers and testing the loyalty of some of his historically closest supporters mere weeks ahead of the midterms.

As dawn breaks over the Texas prairie, where a herd of cattle grazes peacefully, there's growing discontent among ranchers over Trump's attempts to lower beef prices.

His policies are testing the loyalty of ranchers here – among his staunchest supporters – only weeks before November's midterm elections will test his record.

In a bid to ease prices for consumers, Trump authorized an additional 300,000 tons of ground beef to be imported starting September 1, with reduced tariffs.

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Texas ranchers warn that the move could hurt an industry already struggling with the smallest cattle herd in 75 years, higher fuel and fertilizer costs thanks to the war with Iran, and the threat of screwworm.

"President Trump, who I fully support, decided that we needed to import some hamburger meat, which I don't agree with," Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told AFP from his ranch in Stephenville.

Miller sees two problems with the decision: It does not increase the cowherd, and it widens America's agricultural trade deficit.

The stakes are particularly high in Texas, home to the nation's largest cattle herd, raising a problem for Trump in a state that saw him collect 56% of the vote in 2024.

Cattle numbers have declined in Texas amid a regional drought the past three years, prompting farmers to sell their cows, Miller said. Now they're being hit by soaring diesel fuel prices.

"It's going to be a closer election than we've ever had," said Miller, whom Trump has called a "warrior" of MAGA.

"I think we're going to lose some statewide offices… because the beef issue has disappointed a lot of ranchers and farmers," he said.