Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins faced tough questions this week from a Senate Subcommittee.
She is standing by President Trump’s plans for trade and says that while things may get rocky, she plans to keep the conversations going.
“It’s never easy to change the status quo. The easiest thing for us to do is just say, ‘Oh, it’s great, and we don’t want to make anyone mad, and let’s just keep moving forward and keep adding money to the programs.’ This is what I believe voters asked for, and we’ll continue to have these discussions.”
Rollins emphasized USDA’s commitment to taxpayers, saying several programs, like the McGovern-Dole program, must return to their original intent. She also said she will lay out her plan next week to re-organize USDA, which will include bringing back some Farm Service Agency and APHIS staff.
New duty-free phosphate imports from Morocco are expected to boost fertilizer supplies and lower costs for U.S. farmers as USDA estimates prices could fall by as much as 22 percent.
Farm groups welcomed the withdrawal of a proposed glyphosate import duty, saying it helps keep input costs lower as new research and a Supreme Court ruling keep the herbicide in the spotlight.
New crop soybean sales were driven by China, while corn and cotton exports weakened.
Corn and soybean export prices declined in June while fertilizer and machinery costs remained elevated.
ASA President Scott Metzger says soybean growers remain focused on trade, the Farm Bill, renewable fuels, and market stability as Congress weighs additional assistance for farmers and export opportunities.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney discusses what the exemptions could mean for U.S. agriculture and global trade.
