Ag Policy Blog

Brooke Rollins, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to serve as Agriculture secretary, began making the rounds to meet with senators on Tuesday.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., who will chair the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued a news release and photo of him with Rollins.

"I was pleased to meet with Brooke Rollins and discuss our shared interests in enhancing and advancing policies to help rural communities thrive," Boozman said. "Having grown up with an understanding of the sacrifice, hard work and challenges facing agriculture producers, she is well-positioned to be a strong voice and advocate for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners so they can continue to feed, clothe and fuel the world. With a background in executive leadership, she is ready to hit the ground running and work with Congress to deliver a Farm Bill that addresses the needs of America's agricultural producers. I am encouraged by her determination, commitment and resolve to help rural families thrive."

Rollins, an attorney, is a Texas native and a graduate of Texas A&M University. She is the founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), a pair of organizations that have championed Trump's agenda.

Boozman, meanwhile, is pressing fellow senators to provide farmers with "significant economic assistance" before Congress adjourns for the year. In a Senate speech on Monday, Boozman said Congress needs to help producers with support for 2024 and 2025.

Boozman also joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., in a statement on Tuesday lamenting the latest decline in net farm income. USDA reported net farm income would be $6 billion less than 2023, coming in at $140.7 billion. One of the key takeaways is the contrast between crop producers who are forecast to see receipts fall $25 billion while livestock producers are projected to see cash receipts rise $21 billion.

Thompson and Boozman said in their joint statement that the income numbers underscore the need for a farm bill, but they offered no timeline for getting one done. Their statement reflected that Congress will not be getting a farm bill done this year.

"Today's farm income update underscores what Agriculture Committee Republicans in the House and Senate have warned about for two years: America's farmers and ranchers are in serious trouble, and the outlook remains grim. From 2023 to today, row crop producers alone have lost more than $50 billion, and stand to lose even more next year. Immediate action is required to stabilize the farm economy and prevent a crisis that will only become more costly to address over time.

"Reauthorizing a five-year farm bill with significant improvements to the safety net is critical to restore certainty to our producers. Equally urgent, Congress must provide substantial economic aid to help those hit hardest.

"America's farmers and ranchers deserve better. It's time for Congress to deliver on its promises and ensure the future of American agriculture."

Meanwhile, the Democratic side of Congress remains quiet. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is retiring at the end of the year and she has not released any statements since proposing her farm-bill plan last month. On the House side, it's unclear if House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott, D-Ga., has recovered from back surgery. Scott is being challenged for his committee leadership by Reps. Jim Costa, D-Calif., and Angie Craig, D-Minn.

See, "USDA's December Net Farm Income Forecast at $140.7 Billion," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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