Nebraska Farm Bureau
“It is no secret Nebraska’s farm and ranch families are heavily dependent upon international customers for one third of their annual income. Nebraska’s exports of our top five agricultural products accounted for over $3.5 billion in 2024. Those sales helped support the largest segment of Nebraska’s economy, which hit a rough patch in 2024, falling 17% as compared to 2023. Today’s announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, some of Nebraska agriculture’s most important trading partners, only adds to the economic uncertainty which remains the top concern at dinner tables on farms and ranches across our state and nation.”
“Outside of exports, it’s also important to note that 80% of the potash fertilizer used in the United States comes from Canada and other important inputs, including energy and crop protection products, are also imported.”
“While Nebraska agriculture is highly dependent on our export and import relationships with Canada, Mexico, and China, those relationships are not without challenges. From Canada’s protection focused dairy industry, Mexico’s illegal ban on genetically modified corn, to the many trade and geopolitical issues we have with China, much work needs to be done. During his first term, President Trump vowed to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers didn’t bear the brunt of trade disputes and the retaliatory tariffs that followed. Nebraska’s farm and ranch families always seek to secure their financial future through free and open markets. However, we now call on President Trump to again make good on his previous promises and ultimately seek new and expanded agriculturally focused trade agreements around the world, something former President Biden failed to do over the past four years.”
Background:
Nebraska’s top agricultural exports in 2024 were beef, soybeans, corn, pork, and soybean meal with Canada, Mexico, and China being at or near the top of our customer list. These three countries alone purchased 95% of Nebraska’s corn exports, 90% of soybean exports, 57% of soybean meal exports, 32% of pork exports, and 23% of beef exports. Mexico alone was Nebraska’s largest export customer importing $317 million worth of soybeans, $284 million or 93% of total corn exports, and $179 million worth of soybean meal, our largest market for that product.
The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 56,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit www.nefb.org.