Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made several significant announcements at the Agri-Pulse Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City, touching on disaster relief, farm input costs, trade programs, and livestock management. Rollins confirmed that the remaining $2 billion of ECAP disaster funding will be delivered, completing the $10 billion Congress approved. The Secretary also unveiled a joint USDA-Department of Justice effort to address high farm input costs through anti-trust measures. “USDA and the Department of Justice signed a memorandum of understanding this morning that aligns a joint commitment by both of our agencies under Attorney General Pam Bondi and myself to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high and volatile input costs, such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment and other essential goods.” On trade and food aid, Rollins announced USDA will immediately purchase 417,000 metric tons of commodities from American farmers to support the McGovern-Dole and Food For Peace programs. Rollins also addressed foreign ownership of U.S. farmland and livestock protections, including a ban on cattle imports from Mexico until the country demonstrates full compliance with measures against New World Screwworm. “One-hundred percent compliance must be demonstrated by Mexico before a border reopening plan will even be considered,” Rollins said. USDA additionally announced changes to labor reporting and H-2A visa administration, while signaling a boost in trade promotion funds drawn from Biden-era DEI allocations and Trump-era tax bill funding.
