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.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Tara Vander Dussen, fifth-generation dairy farmer, environmental scientist, and co-host of Discover Ag, joined RFD-TV to talk about her work in agriculture and her passion for sharing the story of dairy.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined RFD-TV to discuss how seasonal stress and mental health concerns can make it more challenging to get a restful night’s sleep
Dr. Ashley Johnson, with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), joins us to share the sector’s perspective on new FDA initiatives targeting ultra-processed foods.
Among many longstanding traditions at the FFA Convention & Expo is the National FFA Band.
Pork producers are making Veterans Day a little brighter for Iowa’s military families.
While there has been an increase in outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) this migration season, the CDC says the public health risk is low.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.