Confirmation Countdown: Ag industry anxiously waits for Brooke Rollins’ confirmation

We are waiting for full confirmation of USDA nominee Brooke Rollins.

Washington insiders tell RFD-TV that they expect the full Senate vote before the week is up. However, it is still unclear when that will happen. The Senate Ag Committee voted unanimously to advance her nomination after her hearing last month. Now, farmers and ranchers want to see her in place as the new Administration begins to roll out its agenda.

While she waits for that vote, she is spending some time with her family at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo! She posted on X, bragging about her son, Jake, who was showing his shorthorn. Rollins says Jake has been showing animals for almost a decade, and she is proud of all he has accomplished.

Something Rollins will need to tackle out of the gate will be the spending freeze issued by President Trump, which includes several USDA programs. Democratic lawmakers on the Ag Committees have raised concerns about the pause, saying farmers and ranchers are now caught in the middle. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall told Agri-Pulse that he is urging President Trump to honor funding commitments to farmers through climate-smart programs.

Related Stories
Congress has just over a month of working days left for the year. Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.
Mexico’s tougher, two-step treatment and added checkpoints are catching cases before they can spread—good news for producers near the border.
Agricultural exports continue to be a key contributor to rural employment. However, rural businesses still struggle to fill numerous job openings.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated this week that the government will intervene to help, following China’s withdrawal from the U.S. soybean market. One trader says the industry will remain in a holding pattern until Tuesday.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joins us to provide an updated analysis of projected ARC and PLC payments and potential delays due to the ongoing government shutdown.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Shaun Haney joined us to discuss Canada’s new trade agreement with China, the potential impact on farmers and exporters, and what it could mean for U.S.–Canada trade relations going forward.
National Corn Growers Association Chief Economist Krista Swanson discusses corn supply pressures, market fundamentals, policy considerations, and producer outlook for the year ahead.
The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
The application deadline is March 8, 2026. The 1890 National Scholars Program aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.
Midland County Junior Livestock Show in West Texas features swine competition with top exhibitors, including Grand Champion Brinley Wilson, ahead of Saturday’s premium sale.