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HIGHLIGHTS OF AG SEC'Y ROLLINS' MEETING WITH FARM BROADCASTERS IN DC
May 8, 2025
Source: Oklahoma Farm Report radio network
Washington, DC -- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently met with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB), including Farm Director KC Sheperd, and Farm Reporter Maci Carter to discuss the administration's agricultural policies and address concerns from farm producers as part of their Washington watch event. This event highlighted the crucial role of farm broadcasters in disseminating vital information to rural communities.
Rollins began by acknowledging the NAFB's long-standing contribution. "Since 1944, you all have connected the countryside to the information needed, including timely market updates and local agriculture news and weather," she stated. She emphasized the importance of a free press, quoting Thomas Jefferson: "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government? I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter, the newspapers without a government."
A significant point of discussion was the recent dismissal of criminal charges against the Maude family, a ranching family from South Dakota. Rollins credited agricultural media for their role in bringing the family's plight to light. "Heather Maude thanked, during that press conference, almost at the very top of the list, the writers and the editors of the agriculture outlets who had been making her family's case for months," she noted.
Rollins then outlined the USDA's priorities, including addressing avian influenza, trade issues with Mexico, and ensuring fair trade for American farmers. "Since our avian influenza plan was unveiled, the price of eggs has gone down," she said. "We put pressure on the Mexican government for failing to cooperate in addressing the New World screwworm and also for failing to meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 water treaty, and we've been fighting for fair trade for every American Farmer and Rancher."
One of the key announcements was the upcoming USDA reorganization plan. "We are planning to unveil the new USDA reorganization plan next week," Rollins revealed, addressing concerns about staffing levels and potential "brain drain" due to deferred resignations. She clarified, "USDA has around 106,000 employees in total. Every year, we lose, just by attrition, between eight to 10,000 of those employees. So while 15,000 is blasting across a lot of headlines right now, at the end of the day, through the DRP, hopefully the goal is that it isn't too much of a difference." She also assured that front-line staff, such as those in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and wildland firefighters, would remain priorities.
The issue of economic stress on farmers due to tariffs and increased input costs was raised. Rollins acknowledged the severity of the situation. "That four years of the last administration, where we went from a $0 trade deficit to more than a $50 billion trade deficit, those are direct dollars out of farmers' pockets, the cost of inputs increased 30% over the last four years," she explained.
To read the entire article and watch a video of Ag Sec'y Rollins addressing the farm broadcasters click here.
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