Trade Wars, Lamb Imports, and the Truth Behind AI Data Centers
The conversation begins with stories from New Zealand’s olive farming industry, including a world-class olive oil producer and Trent’s firsthand experience harvesting olives. From there, the discussion turns to growing concerns over trade tensions between the United States and New Zealand, especially surrounding imported lamb and the future of American sheep producers.
Trent and Damian also dive into alarming questions surrounding the explosion of AI data centers being built across the globe. Trent shares research suggesting many existing data centers are operating far below capacity, raising concerns about why massive new facilities continue to be constructed. The episode also covers severe weather across Nebraska, the impact on rural communities, and the possibility of future Trump-era tariffs on imported lamb from Australia and New Zealand. With America’s sheep population continuing to decline, the discussion highlights the growing dependence on foreign imports and what that could mean for food security and rural America.
