>>> AGRICULTURE IS THE BACKBONE TO NEBRASKA'S ECONOMY.

HOW IS NEBRASKA AGRICULTURE DOING?

WHAT PROBLEMS DOES IT FACE?

WHAT IS AHEAD FOR THE FUTURE?

TONIGHT ON " SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA " WE PUT THAT TO THE FORMER OF AGRICULTURE, MIKE JOHANNS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA.

I'M NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA DIRECTOR, DENNIS KELLOGG.

DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRADE WITH FOREIGN PARTNERS WAS AMONG TOP ISSUES FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THE SAME COULD BE SAID BUT A PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN OVER MUCH OF THE SPOTLIGHT.

WE ARE TALKING AGRICULTURE WITH THE U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, MIKE JOHANNS.

ALSO GREG WAS THE UNDERSECRETARY OF MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

HE IS BACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN AND STILL KEEPING HIS EYE ON TRADE.

>> THE AMERICAN FARMER CAN NEVER IGNORE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE.

WE PRODUCE MORE FOOD IN NEBRASKA THAN WE CAN POSSIBLY CONSUME, SINCE WE ARE THE THIRD OR FOURTH LARGEST AG ACCOMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES,LY ESPECIALLY ON THE MEAT SIDE.

WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF NEBRASKA AND OF THE UNITED STATES TO FIND A HOME FOR ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT WE PRODUCE.

SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE ALSO NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW THAT TRADE IS EVOLVING AND DISCUSSIONS AROUND THAT.

TELLING OUR STORY ABOUT HOW WE PRODUCE FOOD.

TELLING OUR STORY ABOUT THE THINGS WE ARE DOING IN NEBRASKA THAT OTHER NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD AREN'T DOING THAT MAKE US ALREADY MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE RESILIENT THAN ANYPLACE IN THE WORLD.

OUR BEEF INDUSTRY WOULD BE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

I THINK THE KEY WE HAVE TO WATCH NOW IS CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE AGREEMENTS WITH CANADA, MEXICO AND CHINA, MAKING SURE THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE AND UDDA'S TRADE UNDERSECRETARY GROUP, FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE MONITOR AND ALERT THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN THEY AREN'T ADHERING AND WE TAKE ACTION TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE AGREEMENTS.

JOINING IS FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND GOVERNOR, SECRETARY JOHANNS, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

P F THANK YOU.

>> YOU ARE VERY INVOLVED OF AGRICULTURE.

YOU IT IS ON THE BOARD OF JOHN DEERE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF AGRICULTURAL AND A COMPANY IN TEXAS CALLED ALL LINE GROUP AND STILL TUNE ED IN TO AGRICULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE.

LET'S START WITH THE BIG PICTURE.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR COUNTRY?

>> BIG PICTURE IS THINGS ARE IMPROVING.

WE CAME THROUGH FOUR, FIVE YEARS THAT WERE TOUGH.

PRICES WEREN'T GOOD.

KIND OF EXTENDED ALL ACROSS AGRICULTURE.

DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE WHETHER YOU WERE GROWING CORN, SOYBEANS, HOGS, CATTLE, IT WAS A CHALLENGING, DIFFICULT TIME.

LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT.

NOW WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A LIFT.

THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE BEEN BETTER.

WE HAVE SEEN BETTER PRICES IN CORN AND SOYBEANS.

BETTER PRICE IN MEAT, HUGE IN NEBRASKA.

MY THOUGHT IS 2022 EVEN BE BETTER IN PROTEIN SECTOR.

I'M ENCOURAGED.

LIKE WHAT I SEE.

>> AS YOU LOOK TO FUTURE WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO AGRICULTURE?

>> THERE IS SO MANY.

ONE OF THE -- JUST BASIC THINGS WE ARE DEALING WITH.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT IT WHEN I'M WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE FARMING OR RANCHING, THERE IS A GREAT DIFFERENCE OR DISTANCE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE THOSE WHO ARE RAISING THE CROPS AND FEEDING THE CATTLE ET CETERA, AND THOSE WHO ARE CONSUMING.

WHEN I GREW UP EVERYBODY WAS CONNECTED TO THE FARM.

I GREW UP ON A FARM.

IF YOU DIDN'T, YOUR GRANDFATHER FARM FARMED OR YOU LIVED IN A SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY THAT.

IS THE NATURE.

I WILL NEVER FORGET I TOOK MY MOTHER AROUND A SECTION.

THERE WERE FIVE ACTIVELY FARMING FAMILIES ON THAT SECTION.

THERE WAS ONE THAT DAY.

THAT PRETTY WELL DESCRIBES AGRICULTURE.

THAT IS A CHALLENGE.

WHEN YOU GET THAT DISTANCE FROM THOSE WHO PRODUCE, THOSE WHO CONSUME, THE CONSUMERS CAN MAKE SOME DEMANDS THAT QUITE HONESTLY ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FULFILL BECAUSE THERE IS THAT LACK OF GROUNDING AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO RAISE AN ANIMAL TO FEED IT OUT AND PRODUCE IT, TO BE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD AND -- ON AND ON, SO I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT CHALLENGES WE FACE.

THERE'S OTHER CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW.

THERE'S THE DAY-TO-DAY CHALLENGE OF TRADE ISSUES.

I MEAN, ANY GIVEN DAY WHEN I WAS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, I WOULD DRIVE INTO THE OFFICE.

THERE WAS A HUGE CRISIS.

WHY?

BECAUSE RUSSIA DECIDED TO CLOSE THEIR BORDERS TO POULTRY OR WHATEVER.

THOSE WERE VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.

YOU RUN INTO THAT ALL THE TIME.

CLIMATE ISSUES ARE A BIG ISSUE NOW.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WAY DOWN ON PRODUCERS.

SO I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON ALL THE CHALLENGES AGRICULTURE FACES.

IT IS A TIME WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION.

>> ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT IS OUT THERE IS STRUGGLING TO RETAIN YOUNG PEOPLE IN AGRICULTURE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT GROWING UP ON A FARM.

ARE WE MAKING ANY PROGRESS IN KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE?

>> THAT IS SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.

WHEN I WAS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, PREPARATION FOR A FARM BILL, I DID LISTENING SESSIONS.

WE DID THEM ALL 50 STATES.

I DID OVER 20 OF THEM MYSELF.

I NEVER FORGET, I WOULD ALWAYS START WITH 4H AND FFA MEMBER.

THE REASON IS I HAD BEEN IN THOSE PROGRAMS.

SO THESE YOUNG, BRIGHT, OPTIMISTIC KIDS WOULD GET UP AND OPEN UP THE LISTENING SESSION.

A YOUNG MAN STOOD UP AND SAID MR. SECRETARY, EVERYBODY IS ASKING HOW DO YOU KEEP KIDS ON THE FARM.

I TELL YOU HOW THE KEEP KIDS ON THE FARM.

MAKE SURE THERE IS SOME PROFITABILITY AND WE WILL STAY HOME IN THE FARM.

YOU KNOW, EVEN AS I THINK ABOUT THAT ANSWER TODAY, IT IS SIMPLISTIC AND PROFOUND ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS YOUNG MAN HAD JUST KIND OF FIGURED OUT WHAT IS KEY HERE.

THAT IS WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THAT VAST PIECE OF THE POPULATION THAT IS NOW CONSUMING MORE THAN PRODUCING, IF YOU WILL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS PROFITABILITY ON THE FARM OR IT DOESN'T WORK.

YOUNG PEOPLE WILL MOVE AWAY BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE A LIVING.

THEY'VE GOT TO PAY THE BILLS.

THEY HAVE TO RAISE THEIR KIDS.

ALL THOSE THINGS.

A KEY ISSUE IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF THINGS GOING ON SO YOUNG PEOPLE WILL STAY ON THE FARM AND MAKE THEIR LIVING THERE.

>> ONE WAY TO PROFITABILITY COULD BE THROUGH TRADE THAT.

IS ALWAYS A BIG TOPIC, AS YOU MENTIONED.

OF COURSE WE HAD THE PHASE ONE TRADE DEAL WITH CHINA, THEN THE NEW NAFTA.

WITH THE PANDEMIC THE FOCUS NOT SO HEAVILY ON TRADE BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE U.S.

POSITION WITH OUR TRADING PARTNERS RIGHT NOW?

>> HERE IS WHAT I WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE.

TRADE IS AN EASY THING TO CONDEMN.

YOU CAN LOOK AT SOME PIECE THAT IS NOT WORKING VERY WELL AND SAY, WELL, WHY DO WE DO THIS?

WHY DO WE DO TRADING A AGREEMENTS?

DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR ME.

FOR A STATE LIKE NEBRASKA IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL WE HAVE OPEN TRADE CORRIDORS, WE HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR OUR PRODUCERS SO WHEN THEY SELL THEIR BEEF INTO CHINA OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE WORLD, THAT PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL FOR THEM.

TRADE IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT.

WE SIMPLY PRODUCE MORE THAN WE CONSUME.

THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT TO MARKET IT SOMEWHERE.

WORLDWIDE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SOMETHING WE JUST HAVE TO WORK ON CONSTANTLY, EVERY DAY.

I WISH I COULD TELL PEOPLE THAT SOME DAY THIS WILL ALL BE SOLVED AND WILL BE SMOOTH SAILING AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A BIG, BRIGHT SMILE ON THEIR FACES.

THAT IS NOT REALITY.

REALITY IS WE GET THE RIGHT TRADING A AGREEMENTS, LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND, IMPORTANTLY, ENFORCE THEM.

I THINK THAT IS AN AREA WE HAVE FALLEN DOWN OVER THE YEARS.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH WITH OTHER COUNTRIES AND SAYING YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE GOING TO LIVE BY THE RULES, YOU HAVE TO LIVE BY THE RULES.

>> LAST WEEK THE PRESIDENT OF NEBRASKA'S FARM BUREAU SAID HE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS.

MARK MC CARD WROTE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN WE HAVE SEEN LITTLE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE AREA OF TRADE AND TRADE POLICY.

THIS LACK OF PROGRESS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND UNDERMINES YOUR PLEDGE TO RESTORE U.S.

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP.

DO YOU THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE DOING MORE?

IF SO, WHAT MORE SHOULD THEY BE DOING?

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WON'T DO MUCH IN TRADE.

YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE SITTING THERE, OR PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS AND SAYING MIKE, THAT IS UNFAIR.

HE'S ONLY BEEN THERE, WHAT, SIX, EIGHT MONTHS.

HOW COULD HE DO VERY MUCH AT THIS POINT.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS TRADE IS DIFFICULT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HE GETS ALL FLAK FROM UNIONS AND OTHERS SAYING DON'T DO THIS, DON'T DO THAT.

I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC IN THIS ADMINISTRATION WHEN COMES TO TRADE.

I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC WE WILL SEE A LIST THAT HAVE BEEN IMPROVED OR CHANGED OR MODIFIED.

I THINK YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IT BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS IT NEEDS.

HOPE YOU CAN INVITE ME ON YOUR PROGRAM AND SAY MIKE, YOU WERE DEAD-WRONG ANT ALL ABOUT ALL THIS.

I THINK I HAVE BEEN AROUND ALL THIS THAT I JUST DON'T SEE TRADE BEING TOP OF HIS TIME AND DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> LET'S TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TRADE DEALS OUT THERE WE MENTIONED.

RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STARTED THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA SIGNED THE PHASE I TRADE DEAL THAT TOOK AFFECT IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 AND GUARANTEED CHINA WOULD PURCHASE MORE AMERICAN PRODUCTS AND ALSO THE DEAL CUT SOME U.S. TAFR TARIFF -- TARIFFS.

IS AMERICA SEEING A LIFT?

>> IN SOYBEANS AND CORN AND PREE PROTEINS HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF THAT TRADING A AGREEMENT.

VERY IMPORTANT POINT.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF DYNAMICS GOING ON.

ONE IS AFRICAN SWINE FEVER SWEPT ACROSS CHINA.

VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE VIRUS.

THEY LOST ABOUT 50% OF THEIR PORK PRODUCTION.

JUST DISAPPEARED.

LITERALLY.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY DEVASTATING THING.

THEY ARE REBUILDING THAT BUT IN THE MEANTIME THEY NEED PROTEIN.

WE GET THE DOUBLE BENEFIT.

THEY ARE BUYING OUR PROTEIN PRODUCTS LIKE BEEF, PORK, POULTRY, ET CETERA.

THEY ARE ALSO REBUILDING THAT HOG HEARD AND SOYBEANS AND CORN.

THE ANSWER IS MOST DEFINITELY WE ARE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT.

THAT WAS TOUGH FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THEY WORKED THEIR WAY THROUGH AND TOOK A TOUGH STAND.

IT WAS TOUGH ON FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

BUT IN THE END, SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.

I APPLAUD THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR SAYING HEY, WAIT A SECOND.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THIS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

IT WAS A TOUGH ROAD.

IN THE END, WE ARE NOW STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THE BENEFITS.

FINGERS CROSSED MY HOPE IS WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS BECAUSE CHINA IS A BIG PLAYER WHEN COMES TO TRADE.

>> YOU MENTIONED ENFORCEMENT BEFORE.

POLITICAL REPORTED LAST WEEK CHINA IS FURTHER AHEAD ON THE PURCHASING BENCHMARKS THAN THEY HAVE BEEN BUT STILL NOT UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE DEAL SO THE U.S. TRADE REP SAID LAST WEEK THEY WOULD MAINTAIN STEEP TARIFFS THROUGHOUT CONTINUED TALKS.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT MOVE, TO KEEP THE TARIFFS UP?

>> YOU KNOW, CHINA NEEDED TO HEAR FROM US.

THEY HAVE HAD AN ATTITUDE THAT WE ARE SUCH A BIG PLAYER, SUCH A BIG BUYER AND SAID WE CAN PUSH THE ENVELOPE.

DONALD TRUMP CAME IN AND SAID YOU CAN'T PUSH THE ENVELOPE.

YOU WILL DEAL WITH HIGHER TARIFFS AND PRETTY UNFRIENDLY ECONOMIC SITUATION WITH THE UNITED STATES UNLESS WE COME TO GRIPS WITH SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE ARE SEEING.

SO IN THE END, THEY BATTLED THROUGH THIS.

BIG ARM WRESTLING MATCH FOR A LONG TIME BUT IN THE END THEY CAME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT.

THE TRADE REPRESENTATIVE'S POINT IS A VERY GOOD POINT.

THEY AGREED TO BUY A CERTAIN LEVEL OF OUR COMMODITIES.

REALLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY LIVE UP TO THAT PROMISE THAT.

IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

NOT ONLY IN NEBRASKA BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

>> TO FOLLOW UP ON OUR TRADE WITH CHINA, THEY BELIEVE I PURCHASED 20% OF U.S. AG PRODUCTS.

IS THAT TOO MUCH CONSIDERING THE POLITICAL TENSIONS?

SHOULD WE DIVERSITY?

>> IT IS A GREAT DEBATE.

THAT IS JUST -- ANY BUSINESS OUT THERE THAT HAS ONE MAIN CUSTOMER THAT IS BUYING 20% OF THEIR WINDOWS OR DOORS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE PRODUCEING, THE OWNER PROBABLY GOES TO BED AND SAYS I'M HEAVILY FOCUSED ON THIS CUSTOMER BECAUSE IF THAT CUSTOMER HICKUPS, I'M IN TROUBLE.

IF THEY GET A COLD, I'M GOING TO GET PNEUMONIA.

WE FACE THAT WITH CHINA.

THEY ARE A BIG BUYER OF AG PRODUCTS.

NOT JUST THE 20% IN CERTAIN AREAS.

LIKE COTTON WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

SOYBEANS WOULD BE ANOTHER.

THEY WOULD BUY A VERY LARGE PIECE OF OUR PRODUCTION.

SO MY HOPE IS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, EVERY ADMINISTRATION SAYS WE'VE GOT TO DO THER THINGS.

WE'VE GOT TO NEGOTIATE TRADING A AGREEMENTS THAT LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

ECONOMIES ARE GROWING IN INDIA, AFRICA.

NOT EVERYWHERE IN INDIA.

NOT EVERYWHERE IN AFRICA.

WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BALL.

IF AN ADMINISTRATION COMES TO OFFICE, IF SOMEBODY TAKES THE WHITE HOUSE AND DON'T NEGOTIATE TO IMPROVE THE PLAIN PICTURE, I KNOW WHO WILL SUFFER.

IT IS THE FARMER OUT IN AURORA OR THE RANCHER IN WESTERN NEBRASKA.

SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN AGAIN TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND OPEN UP MARKETS FOR U.S. MARKET AND NEBRASKA PRODUCTS.

>>> WE ARE TALKING WITH U.S. FORMER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, MIKE JOHANNS, SENATOR AND FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEBRASKA TONIGHT ON " SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA .

"ENTER THE OTHER IS THE DEAL BETWEEN THE U.S. , MEXICO AND CANADA.

THE BIG IMPACT IN THE U.S. IS ACCESS TO MORE CANADIAN DAIRY.

HOW DO YOU THINK USMCA IS PLAYING OUT FOR FARMERS HERE?

>> IT IS A BETTER AGREEMENT THAN NAFTA.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT TRUMP WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH.

THE PRESIDENT LOOKED AT NAFTA AND SAID IT WAS TOO ONE-SIDED.

CAME INTO OFFICE AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH A BETTER SITUATION.

SO I THINK IN LOOKING AT THE TWO AGREEMENTS YOU CAN SAY, FOR DOUBT ABOUT IT, IT DEFINITELY IS AN IMPROVEMENT.

BUT YOUR QUESTION REALLY GETS TO THE HEART OF THE ISSUE.

IT IS WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

ONE THING TO HAVE WORDS ON PAPER AND HAVE THIS BIG SIGNING CEREMONY AND EVERYBODY IS PETTING EACH OTHER ON THE BACK AND LIFTING CHAMPAGNE GLASS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING.

IT IS QUITE ANOTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT TRADING A AGREEMENT IS ENFORCED AND THAT EVERYBODY IS LIVING BY THE TERMS OF THAT TRADING A AGREEMENT.

CANADA HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY PROTECTIVE OF CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THEIR ECONOMY.

LUMBER WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

BUT MILK IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT THE BENEFITS OF A TRADING A AGREEMENT, IF THEY WANT THE BENEFITS OF A U.S.

MARKETPLACE, THEY HAVE TO LIVE BY THE RULES.

SO SEE HERE, WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE THE AGREEMENT BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT OR IT IS WORDS ON PAPER.

>> WE TALK ABOUT CHINA, CANADA, MEXICO BUT ARE THERE COUNTRIES YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER TO MARKET OUR PRODUCTS THAT WE REALLY AREN'T DOING THAT NOW?

>> A WHOLE HOST.

TAIWAN WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

HISTORICALLY, THEY HAVE REALLY ENJOYED BEEF.

SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

SO MANY TIMES IN MY CAREER I HAD BEEN IN TAIWAN PROMOTING THE IDEA THEY NEEDED TO BUY U.S.

BEEF.

TAIWAN WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE.

JAPAN IS AN EXAMPLE.

WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT JAPAN BUT THEY ARE A LARGE BUYER OF U.S.

BEEF.

AGAIN, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE JAPAN IS KEEPING THEIR MARKETS OPEN.

THEY ARE NOT USING EXCUSES TO PUSH BACK ON BUYING PRODUCTS FROM THE UNITED STATES.

I PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO AFRICA.

I HAVE FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE ARE PARS PARTS THAT ARE STILL CHAOTIC AND A STABLE GOVERNMENT IS HARD TO COME BY, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA I BELIEVE THERE IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

NOT ONLY TODAY BUT IN THE FUTURE.

IF YOU LOOK WHERE THE POPULATION OF THE WORLD IS GROWING, WHERE THE MIDDLE CLASS IS GROWING, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT AFRICA.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT INDIA.

THOSE MIGHT BE A LITTLE FUTURE ISTIC, BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE LONG FOR THEM TO HAVE A MAJOR PRESENCE IN TERMS OF PRODUCTS THEY WANT.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE START EARNING MORE AND THEY HAVE SOME DISPOSABLE INCOME, THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS IMPROVE THEIR DIET.

THAT TYPICALLY MEANS MORE PROTEIN.

THE WORLD NEEDS PROTEIN.

WHAT DO WE DO VERY WELL HERE IN NEBRASKA?

WE GROW -- WE PRODUCE MEAT PRODUCTS.

WE DO IT VERY WELL.

BEST IN THE WORLD.

>> IT IS NO SECRET NEBRASKA IS A RED MEAT STATE.

THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX LARGE PACKING PRESENTS IN NEBRASKA.

A FOCUS IS MEAT PACKING AND POWER THE PACKERS HAVE BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY SO CONSOLIDATED BETWEEN FOUR COMPANIES.

HOW HEALTHY DO YOU THINK THE BEEF INDUSTRY IS.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON CONSOLIDATION?

>> THERE'S JUST NO QUESTION OVER TIME THAT CONSOLIDATION HAS OCCURRED IN AGRICULTURE.

IT IS NOT JUST IN, YOU KNOW, PROCESSING.

IT IS ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

I WOULD LOVE TO REGALE YOU WITH TALES AND GROWING UP ON A QUARTER SECTION OF LAND.

SOME YEARS WE WOULD RUN ANOTHER 40 OR ANOTHER 80 BUT, BY AND LARGE, IT WAS THAT FAMILY FARM.

THAT 1950s, 60S FAMILY FARM THAT REALLY IS AN ENTITY THAT IS VERY HARD TO KEEP A FAMILY PROVIDED FOR.

WHAT HAPPENED?

CONSOLIDATION OCCURRED IN PROCESSING.

I THINK MANY IN THE INDUSTRY WHO ARE PRODUCING THE MEAT ARE SAYING LOOK, THAT IS UNFAIR.

I CAN'T EVEN GET A PRICE FOR MY MEAT.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE MARKET VALUE OF AN ANIMAL WHEN VIRTUALLY NO OPEN MARKET EXISTS?

SO YOU ARE GOING TO START TO SEE MORE ACTIVITY, I BELIEVE.

BUT THE CAPITAL NECESSARY TO OPEN A BEEF PROCESSING PLANT IS PRETTY DARN ENORMOUS.

I'M NOT EXPECTING THIS TO HAPPEN DRAMATICALLY.

I'M NOT EXPECTING IT TO HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY, BUT I THINK PRODUCERS WOULD BENEFIT BY HAVING OTHER OPTIONS, SO WE WILL SEE.

THAT IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT SOLUTION, I GUARANTEE THAT.

OF COURSE THERE IS ANOTHER FARM BILL LOOMING OUT THERE IN 2024.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WILL BE LOOKING FOR AND WATCHING TO SEE HOW EFFECTIVE THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION COULD BE?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT FARM BILLS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS LIKE TRADE AND TAX POLICY THAT ARE AS IMPORTANT BUT YEAH, YOU ARE RIGHT.

HERE WE COME UP ON ANOTHER FARM BILL.

TO ME I LOOK AT THE SAFETY NET.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK ANY FARMER, RANCHER WANTS TO GO BACK TO THE DAYS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO GUARANTEE INCOME BY LIMITING PRODUCTION AND SAYING YOU CAN ONLY PRODUCE THIS OR THAT ON YOUR LAND.

FARMERS WANT THE ABILITY TO BE PRODUCTIVE.

THEY ARE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE HERE IN THE WORLD IN NEBRASKA AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, SO I ALWAYS LOOK AT THAT.

I ALSO LOOK AT TRADE POLICY.

I LOOK AT BEGINNING FARMER ISSUES.

I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST SECTOR OF AGRICULTURE THAT LITERALLY HAD A SPECIFIC PIECE FOR THAT.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

THAT IS STAY ON THE FARM.

I'LL LOOK VERY, VERY CLOSELY AT CONSERVATION.

THE REASON WHY THAT GETS MY ATTENTION IS I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK FARMERS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THAT, THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BENEFIT ED FROM THAT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE DISTORTING.

YOU DON'T WANT SO MUCH GOING INTO CONSERVATION THAT LITERALLY YOU START DISTORT PRICES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TAKEN LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION.

THE OTHER THING I PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH RENEWABLE FUELS.

BIO FUELS ARE IMPORTANT.

BIO DIESEL, ETHANOL, WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENT IS THIS ADMINISTRATION GOING TO BE MAKING TO THAT.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

IT IS A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.

BUT THOSE WOULD BE SOME OF THE KEY THINGS THAT COME TO MIND.

>> JUST A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU A COUPLE NON-AG QUESTIONS THAT RELATE TO NEBRASKA.

YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, BEN NELSON, HAS WRITTEN " DEATH OF THE SENATE " AND ARGUING BIPARTISANSHIP HAS DECLINED.

AS YOU WATCH AS A FORMER SENATOR, YOU CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON?

>> I AM CONCERNED.

I'D OFFER A COUPLE THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

WASHINGTON IS A PLACE WITH SHARP ELBOWS.

IT IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ENGAGE IN GOVERNING IN A WAY THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, SOME BLACK EYES AND BRUISED RIBS LEFT BEHIND.

NOW HAVING SAID THAT, I KNOW SO MANY UNITED STATES SENATORS AND EVEN HOUSE MEMBERS, THOUGH I NEVER SERVED IN THE HOUSE, WHO ARE TRULY THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASON.

I COULD NAME PEOPLE LIKE JOHN CORNYN FROM TEXAS.

CHUCK GREYS GRASS LY FROM IOWA, DEB FISCHER FROM NEBRASKA.

I COULD GO ON AND ON.

THESE PEOPLE ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT WORK.

I THINK IF YOU COULD REALLY FOCUS ON THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE LEADERS, YOU KNOW.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT DEB FISCHER, SHE IS A LEADER NOW IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

SHE HAS HUGE CREDIBILITY.

SO WHEN SHE SPEAKS ABOUT AGRICULTURE, EVERYBODY AT THAT NOON LUNCHEON IS LEANING OVER TO SEE WHAT DEB HAS TO SAY.

SO THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE FOCUS ON THE FACT THERE ARE PEOPLE GETTING THE JOB DONE, MAKING THE HARD CHOICES, BUILDING THE LEGISLATION THAT IS NECESSARY.

WHATEVER IT IS.

BIPARTISANSHIP IS TOUGHER TO COME BY.

YOU HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> CERTAINLY IS.

IT'S BEEN GREAT SPENDING TIME WITH YOU FORMER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, FORMER GOVERNOR AND SENATOR, MIKE JOHANNS.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AND SPEAKING WITH US.

>> GLAD TO DO IT, THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS DISCUSSION AND THE REST OF THIS PROGRAM ARE ON OUR WEB SITE.

GO TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/SPEAKING OFNEBRASKA.

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JOIN US NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT COVID-19 WITH TWO DOCTORS AND NEBRASKA'S NEW STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST.

I'M PUBLIC NEWS DIRECTOR, DENNIS KELLOGG.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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