Commissioner, what else could the federal government ideally do to help relieve some of the challenges that are facing farmers and ranchers right now that haven't already been proposed, whether it's diesel related, fertilizer related, any of that?

Well, you know, I think that, you know, we've kind of looked at a lot of different things.

I think the markets for me are really concerning with just some of the trade barriers that we've put up and facing.

Even though USMCA is, you know, protects things like corn and soybeans, I think the tactics that we're taking with the two countries are are limiting us on purchases.

I know a lot of people are just saying, you know, in companies that we talk to or say, well, let's wait and see how this plays out here.

And so we're leaving a lot on the table.

The other thing that we're seeing is those countries are going to look for other suppliers.

So what do you think about what's happening between the two countries right now and how it's affecting agriculture and any optimism at all?

Will you tell us sort of broadly about the purpose of this annual conference and, and kind of what it's about?

Yeah.

I think it's a really important conference where, um, uh, commissioners like myself get together with our counterparts in Canada, um, the, um, provincial leaders, uh, and then, uh, Mexican, uh, um, ministers to of their 32 states.

And we were really lucky to have a record turnout this year.

As you might imagine, with everything going on, uh, we had all 11 Canadian provinces, 30 states represented, and 10 Mexican states.

And we get together and, um, come up with a, a general sense of agreed topics that we can agree to to go forward.

Um, and, and very important, I, I've been able to do this all eight years as commissioner and find it very helpful.

What was helpful about it? What conversations are you able to have? Because, I mean, if, if the tariffs are in place, if the policies are put into place, how do you have conversations through or around that?

How are people coping? Is the optimism there or do you feel like we're more and more fragile?

Well, you know, it's kind of interesting, but I always say during harvest, the optimism goes high.

Even if you're struggling, you're always, optimism's pretty good.

But the one thing I'd say right now is obviously is the diesel prices.

You know, that is really getting hammered.

You know, the six bucks and, you know, and a lot of farmers were able to forward contract, but a lot weren't, you know.

And then you put in all the hauling costs and other things that are coming along with it.

Can you just explain to the audience what the innovation and research around proteins and what it could mean to kind of the next gen ag here in Minnesota?