Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins is currently testifying before the House Agriculture Committee. She is fielding questions on trade, animal health, and the MAHA report.
When asked about what the U.S. can do to expand market access by Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra, she said matching other countries’ tariffs on exports just makes sense.
“I have been really surprised, but in the best way, at how excited these countries are for us to be on the ground, how they understand that the 15 percent average tariff put on our American agriculture products versus the average 5 percent that we put on their products. They understand that it is not sustainable, that they’ve got to do better at putting our American products forward. As I mentioned, Italy imports $75 billion in ag products every year, only $1.7 billion of that is from America. This is one of our best partners, more aligned with our values than any other country.”
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
February 02, 2026 12:13 PM
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The biggest development of 2025 in agricultural law and taxation was the signing into law on July 4 of the Trump Administration’s landmark legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA)
February 02, 2026 11:40 AM
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House Agriculture Committee Chairman “GT” Thompson is pushing a “Farm Bill 2.0.”
February 02, 2026 10:56 AM
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Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.
January 30, 2026 02:59 PM
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The federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.
January 30, 2026 12:51 PM
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The changing political climate in America is leading to a drop in migrant crossings near the U.S.-Mexico border, where ranchers like Dr. Mike Vickers say they witnessed horrors from death to child trafficking.
January 30, 2026 11:47 AM
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