Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins sat down with farmers and ranchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center for a closed-press roundtable on tariffs and trade.
Producers shared how the on-again, off-again tariffs with key partners like Mexico and Canada have created economic uncertainty for Nebraska agriculture. At the same time, some thanked the Trump administration for progress in opening doors to major markets, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
The secretary’s visit came at the request of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and included Nebraska Representatives Don Bacon, Mike Flood, and Adrian Smith of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation highlighted the benefits they say will come to the state from the recently passed tax and spending cuts bill. U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.
Secretary Rollins noted that, with the farm bill still delayed in Congress, it was critical that the GOP tax and spending package — which former President Trump has called “big” and “beautiful” — included baseline protections for crop pricing.
Representative Flood, whose district includes Lincoln, said conversations with growers and bankers point to a need for help in reducing the risk of loan defaults. Representative Bacon added that some producers are looking for support, and one of the best ways to provide it is by expanding biofuels into aviation fuel and increasing ethanol blends in gasoline.
