Rep. Don Bacon Questions Ag. Sec. Brooke Collins on US-Canada Trade Relations and Research Funding

US-Canada Trade Relationship

• 🎯 Canada is identified as Nebraska's largest trading partner and a cornerstone of its agriculture economy.
• ⚠️ The current trade relationship is strained due to tariffs, particularly on dairy and wood, despite the USMCA agreement.
• 🗣️ Comments from the administration regarding Canada potentially becoming the "51st state" have angered Canadian business leaders, leading to lost business.
• 🤝 The need to repair the relationship with Canada is emphasized for the benefit of Nebraska and the entire United States.

US Meat Animal Research Center

• 🔬 A discussion regarding staffing and funding cuts at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska.
• 💡 Efforts are underway to restore critical research positions and ensure sustainable funding for the center.

USDA Research Directives

• 🚫 A directive from the USDA's agriculture research service restricted the use of over 100 terms in evaluation agreements, including ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel, water conservation, and groundwater pollution.
• ✅ This directive has been fixed almost immediately, and no further issues have been reported regarding these restrictions.