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.
The USDA’s February WASDE report looms as the CME Ag Economy Barometer shows declining farmer confidence, and more ag industry groups calling for swift policy action.
February 06, 2026 04:18 PM
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Dr. Peter Beetham, interim CEO of Cibus, joined us to discuss the status of EU gene-editing deregulation and its potential implications for agriculture.
February 06, 2026 12:36 PM
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The U.S. trade deal with Argentina creates new export opportunities for U.S. livestock and crop producers but also raises competitive concerns.
February 06, 2026 10:15 AM
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More flexible export financing could strengthen demand in emerging markets and support higher U.S. agricultural exports.
February 06, 2026 07:00 AM
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Incremental trade clarity with India could support select U.S. ag exports, but major gains hinge on future market-access talks.
February 06, 2026 06:00 AM
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The phone call injected optimism into the soybean market, but actual Chinese buying and its timing will ultimately determine the extent of U.S. agricultural export benefits.
February 05, 2026 10:41 AM
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