Sec. Brooke Rollins: “Significant trade agreement announcements” are coming down the pipeline soon

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins was in the hot seat twice in one week, this time before a House Appropriations Committee, defending USDA’s budget for next year.

When pressed on making up lost dollars from recent trade action, Rollins said the President’s team is already working on solutions.

“I have never been more encouraged about what is going to happen. The deals will begin to be announced very soon. It may be private, but we’ve got several of our Cabinet Secretaries heading out across the world, not just myself; in the UK, the President is heading to the Middle East, our Secretary of Treasury is headed out, our Secretary of Commerce is headed out. We are very, very close to significant trade agreement announcements. No one will benefit more than our farmers and our ranchers.”

Rollins tells lawmakers her vision moving forward is prioritizing food safety, weeding out wasteful spending, and allowing states to better serve their communities.

Related Stories
Global agriculture is stabilizing after years of price swings, with flat to modestly rising returns expected as productivity offsets slower demand growth.
Expect incremental near-term lift for feed grains, proteins, and ethanol as tariff cuts and smoother approvals translate into real orders.
Cattle markets are collapsing this week, and analysts say that several factors are at play. Consumer beef prices also remain near all-time highs, threatening long-term demand.
If confirmed, early Chinese buys tighten nearby Gulf/PNW capacity and could bump basis in export-oriented regions.
Trade pacts with Malaysia and Cambodia unlock tariff-free and preferential lanes for key U.S. farm goods, expanding long-term demand in Southeast Asia.
The idea of buying more beef from Argentina does not sit well with much of farm country, raising some questions from analysts and producers.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Smaller U.S. production and steady global demand could provide better pricing opportunities in 2026.
More than 1,100 residents and farmers have signed a letter urging Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to step in, saying the proposal threatens irrigation supplies and long-term farm viability in the region.
Reviewing risk management now can help dairy and livestock producers enter 2026 with clearer margins and fewer surprises.
Canada’s new voluntary Grocery Sector Code of Conduct will take effect on Jan. 1, a goodwill effort to promote fairness and transparency between retailers and support farms that sell directly to stores.
With record grain harvests and rising global ethanol demand, leaders across the ag and energy sectors are pushing for year-round E15 sales to mitigate the strain on grain trade.
Pork producers warn that proposed definitions of “ultra-processed” food in guidelines from the “Make America Healthy Again” plan could negatively impact industry-standard bacon, sausage, and feed practices.