Successful Farming: Agriculture Industry Reacts to Nomination of Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture
Agriculture Industry Reacts to Nomination of Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture
Agricultural industry groups released statements congratulating the current president and CEO of America First Policy Institute on her nomination.
Natalina Sents Bausch is the Digital Director for Successful Farming and Agriculture.com. She manages the daily newsroom-style digital content creation and distribution strategy for Agriculture.com. She has covered stories ranging from infrastructure and young farmers to new machinery introductions and USDA programs. Natalina joined the Successful Farming team in 2017 to cover new farm machinery and news coverage for Agriculture.com.
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Successful Farming
11.25.24
On Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump tapped surprise pick Brooke Rollins to be the next USDA Secretary of Agriculture. For weeks, the industry had been speculating who would be next to lead the department.
Agricultural industry groups and several other contenders for the position were quick to react to the news.
National Sorghum Producers
Amy France, a sorghum farmer from Scott City, Kansas, was among the first to comment on Trump’s nomination of Rollins.
“We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination as Secretary of Agriculture. This is an important moment for U.S. agriculture, and we are optimistic about the opportunities her leadership will bring to rural America,” said France, chairwoman of the National Sorghum Producers.
"Sorghum farmers are at the forefront of innovation, contributing to domestic biofuels and heart-healthy, nutritious, ancient grain foods. We are eager to work with her to advance policies that strengthen the sorghum industry and benefit growers nationwide.”
National Corn Growers Association
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is a farmer-led trade organization that represents the interests of more than 300,000 farmers.
President Kenneth Hartman Jr. offered congratulations on behalf of the organization, “We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination to be the next Secretary of Agriculture. We look forward to working with Ms. Rollins and the president-elect on issues of importance to production agriculture, including the expansion of domestic and international markets for corn and improved farm and tax policies.”
National Grain and Feed Association
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) consists of grain, feed, processing, exporting, and other grain-related companies that operate facilities handling U.S. grains and oilseeds. The organization consists of 27 affiliated state and regional grain and feed associations.
President and CEO Mike Seyfert released this statement Saturday after the nomination announcement, “On behalf of the member companies of the NGFA, I congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination by President Trump as Secretary of Agriculture in his cabinet. NGFA’s members represent much of the food and agriculture food chain, and we are excited to partner with Ms. Rollins and the entire Trump team to deliver for U.S. agriculture. I am confident she will bring valuable insight to the issues important to NGFA members and the entire food and agriculture chain. NGFA and I congratulate and look forward to working with her to Transform America’s Harvest.”
Growth Energy
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor reacted to Rollins’ nomination saying, “Growth Energy looks forward to engaging with Secretary Designate Rollins and demonstrating how our industry is vital to growing jobs and innovation across rural America and unleashing American energy dominance. The USDA Secretary is rural America’s voice in the White House, and we will work hard to ensure Rollins is well-positioned to deliver on President Trump’s rural agenda, expand markets for homegrown renewable fuel, and bring more low-cost options to the pump.”
American Farm Bureau Federation
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is the national advocate for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farm Bureau members in over 2,800 counties meet annually to discuss and vote on ag-related policies, and those policies set the agenda for state Farm Bureaus and AFBF.
In a statement released Saturday, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination to be Secretary of Agriculture. We’re pleased she has a good relationship with our state Farm Bureau in Texas and hope to build on it if she’s confirmed by the Senate. We’re encouraged by her statement that she’d ‘fight for America’s farmers and our nation’s agricultural communities.’ Effective leadership at USDA is more important than ever as farmers and ranchers face a struggling agricultural economy."
American Soybean Association
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has 26 affiliated state soybean associations representing 30 soybean-producing states and more than 500,000 U.S. soybean farmers. A primary focus of the group is policy development and implementation.
In a statement released Saturday, the ASA congratulated Rollins on her selection by Trump as the nominee. The association said that it “looks forward to working with Rollins on priorities ranging from farm bill to biotechnology, biofuels support to agricultural trade, among other issues that impact soy growers and agriculture at large.”
Josh Gackle, ASA president and soy farmer from Kulm, North Dakota, said in the statement, “We appreciate that Rollins holds a degree in agriculture development and grew up on a farm, and that she will bring that perspective, along with her policy experience from the previous Trump administration, to the role. The mission carried out by USDA is vital to the continued success both domestically and abroad for U.S. soybean farmers. ASA welcomes the opportunity to share the importance of soy in the U.S. economy and work with the department and this nominee upon her confirmation on issues critical to farmers.”
National Farmers Union
The National Farmers Union (NFU) represents family farmers and ranchers across the country, with formally organized divisions in 33 states. The organization has a grassroots structure in which policy positions are initiated locally.
In a statement released Saturday, NFU President Rob Larew congratulated Rollins on behalf of NFU members. “I am hopeful her rural roots instilled in her the important role family farmers and ranchers play in supporting our nation’s economy,” said Larew.
“If confirmed, Ms. Rollins will begin her tenure at a time when family farmers and our communities face historic challenges, including soaring input costs, difficult market conditions, extreme weather events, and the ongoing need for the certainty of a five-year farm bill. We are eager to collaborate on solutions that ensure fair markets, a robust agriculture economy, and vibrant rural communities. Together, we can advance a stronger future for agriculture and rural America,” said Larew.
Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists
The Food and Environment (F&E) Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists is a team of scientists, analysts, and advocates committed to building a food system that provides affordable, healthy food for all; builds diverse, sustainable farm ecosystems; and is fair to farmers, workers, and eaters. F&E conducts research and analysis in agricultural science, public health, and economics. The group then uses that work to support a science-based vision for a better U.S. food system and advocates for policies that can help move that vision forward.
Karen Perry Stillerman, deputy director of the F&E Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said in a statement, “Outside of a misdirected interest in Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland, Brooke Rollins appears to have no agricultural policy track record to comment on.”
“This appears to be another example of President-elect Trump doling out cabinet appointments for loyalty rather than expertise. Our nation’s farmers, food workers, consumers, and the public servants at the USDA deserve a secretary who knows and cares about the challenges they face,” said Perry Stillerman.
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships, and public engagement.
On Monday, NASDA released a statement congratulating Rollins and looking forward to “working with the U.S. Senate to get Brooke Rollins confirmed so she can begin to champion solutions for food and agricultural production.”
“NASDA members look forward to working with a leader who is committed to ensuring agriculture leads the way toward a healthy and resilient world,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “As co-regulators with the federal government on environmental, agricultural, and food safety policies, NASDA will work with Brooke Rollins to continue seeking innovative opportunities and solutions for our food, fiber, and fuel supply.”
McKinney had been viewed as a potential nominee for the role before Trump selected Rollins.
Glenn Thompson
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), who was among the names floated for secretary, congratulated Rollins on the nomination on X. Thompson said he’s looking forward to working with Rollins “to make agriculture great again!”
Abel Maldonado
Abel Maldonado, who was also on the unofficial short list for USDA secretary, echoed support for Rollins by reposting several congratulatory messages on X on Saturday. Maldonado was 48th Lieutenant Governor of California during Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration.
Kip Tom
Kip Tom, who was also on Trump’s unofficial short list for the position, offered up his congratulations to Rollins on X. “Brooke has been a Trump loyalist from the beginning and having grown up as part of a generational farming family, agriculture is in her DNA. I stand ready to assist with issues related to agriculture and rural America,” he said. Tom served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture during the first Trump administration.
Charles Herbster
On Sunday, Charles Herbster, who had been considered for the role by Trump, expressed how honored he was to have been considered and spoke well of Rollins.
“Working together on the Executive Committee Board for the America First Policy Institute, I have gotten to know Brooke Rollins well. I know she will do an incredible job as the next secretary of agriculture for President Donald J. Trump. I am fully committed to do whatever I can to help Secretary Rollins and The President make America Great Again!,” said Herbster on X.