Rollins: Agriculture Central to America’s Future

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins used her address at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention to frame agriculture as central to the nation’s economy, security, and identity. Rollins told delegates that farmers and ranchers are more than commodity producers, saying they are “the bearers of a way of life and custodians of the great American experiment.” Rollins blamed rising input costs and trade deficits on policies of the previous administration, noting fuel and oil costs rose 32 percent, labor costs climbed 47 percent, and interest rates increased 73 percent over four years. Rollins highlighted actions taken under President Donald Trump to strengthen farm income and markets, pointing to expanded trade access, tax relief, and safety net improvements. Rollins also announced new investments in the farm safety net, including enhanced Dairy Margin Coverage and the addition of up to 30 million base acres to ARC and PLC programs, the first expansion since 2002.