Dear President Trump,

On behalf of the undersigned Nebraska associations, we express our support for the renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). For reference, each association represents a commodity or general farm organization with members across the state of Nebraska.

Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska’s economy, with 1 in 4 jobs connected to the ag complex. As you know, USMCA preserves and strengthens vital market access to Mexico and Canada which are the most important and reliable trading partners for our collective industries. These markets consistently rank among the top ten destinations for Nebraska agricultural exports, supporting farmers and rural communities.

The USMCA agreement reinforces and enhances the logical trade relationship between Nebraska and its North American neighbors and provides critical stability and certainty to this important aspect of the state’s economy. USMCA additionally preserves zero-tariff treatment that is crucial to allow U.S. agricultural exports to be globally competitive. With Nebraska’s central location and access to three Class I railroads, transportation is efficient to several crossings into Mexico and Canada.

USMCA provides a close proximity export market for Nebraska agricultural products, which translates to cost savings for Nebraskan farmers and producers. The efficiencies in accessing the Canadian market provides financial savings to Nebraska farmers and producers, especially as input costs remain at sustained high levels and commodity prices simultaneously have remained low. More specifically:

• Mexico is the largest market for U.S. corn, importing a record of over 1 billion bushels. Specifically, Nebraska is the top producer of white corn across the U.S. and the third largest producer of yellow corn.
• Nebraska, known as the “beef state,” is the 2nd largest red meat processer. Mexico ranks 3rd and Canada ranks 4th in beef imports from the U.S.
• Nebraska is the 2nd largest ethanol producer and Canada is the top export destination for U.S. ethanol.
• Mexico is the largest importer of US dairy products purchasing over 50% of U.S. nonfat dry milk and significant quantities of cheese as a result of USMCA. Canada is the second largest market for U.S. dairy products representing over $1Billion in annual export value.
• Mexico is the top destination for U.S. wheat, averaging 20% of total exports annually.
• Nebraska is the 6th largest pork producing state in the country. In 2024, Nebraska exported $52.8 million worth of pork to Canada and $48 million to Mexico, making them the third and fourth largest export markets for Nebraska pork, respectively.
• Mexico is the second largest trading partner for U.S. soy, and Canada’s market share of soybean meal is projected to grow with domestic U.S. crush capacity increases. Mexico was Nebraska’s largest export customer importing $317 million worth of soybeans and $179 million worth of soybean meal.
• Mexico is the second largest importer of U.S. sorghum.

The United States is the world’s largest agricultural exporter and both Mexico and Canada account for $64 billion worth of agricultural exports, which is more than a third of all U.S. agricultural exports. The combined export market value of Mexico and Canada for Nebraska agriculture is over $1.6 billion. Nebraska farmers must be globally competitive and seek out new demand opportunities while the stability provided under USMCA allows for long-term investments, planning, and growth that our farmers and their rural communities depend on to survive.

We appreciate your attention to our views and stand ready to provide more information as the USMCA Review progresses.

Sincerely,

Nebraska Corn Growers Association,
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Nebraska Pork Producers Association
Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association,
Nebraska Soybean Association
Nebraska State Dairy Association
Nebraska Wheat Growers Association
Renewable Fuels Nebraska