The ag industry and the markets are still waiting for the Senate to confirm Brooke Rollins for Ag Secretary.
It has now been 18 days since Rollins testified before the Senate Ag Committee. The hearing itself was mild compared to hearings with other cabinet nominees. Analysts have said she is expected to sail through the vote, but it is yet to be scheduled.
The industry is also watching to see if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will get the votes needed to lead Health and Human Services. He is faced with more criticism than Rollins, but groups like NASDA say they just want him to follow the science.
“We wanna get in to speak with him. ‘Make America Healthy Again’ is a mantra that it’s hard to see where someone could disagree with trying to get Americans to be more healthy. We do want to ensure that we’re looking at science and basing decisions on the science that is out there, and it’s established science. We will look forward to working with him his team, as he comes forward and potentially to lead,” said RJ Karney, Director of Policy at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
Farmers and ag groups have been on Capitol Hill since the inauguration. Karney is urging those in the industry to engage with RFK Jr. if given the chance, saying it is important he hears their side.
President Trump’s pick for U.S. Trade Representative is also up for consideration. Jamieson Greer fielded questions for more than two hours before the Senate Finance Committee. When pressed on unfair trade deals, he said he plans to hold North American partners accountable.
“Any trade agreement we have is only as valuable as the enforcement behind it. So my view is all these issues you talked about with Mexico, whether it be energy or corn, etc. We need to enforce that. I know that there was a case that was done on the corn issue, I’m going to enforce that. I know that there were consultations open on energy, we’re going to bring that up with Mexicans as well. Good fences make good neighbors. If we want to have good ongoing trade relations with folks, we have to hold them accountable.”
Greer still faces a full Senate vote. There is no word on when that will take place.
