Election

Voters Approve Initiatives for Food in Colorado and Water in Texas

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:54:51 GMT

While most of the 2025 election attention turned to the coasts — California’s redistricting proposal and the New York City mayoral race — there were a few food- and ag-focused items on more central U.S. ballots. And all four items passed, most with strong margins.

Coloradans Fund Universal School Food

Just over a third (35.6%) of registered voters turned out in Colorado for the off-year 2025 election. Both of Colorado’s statewide ballot issues that dealt with funding the state’s universal free meals for public school students — Propositions LL and MM — were approved by voters. Both propositions, in different ways, aimed to help fund the state’s Healthy School Meals for All program and its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Prop LL asked voters if it could keep $12.43 million in excess tax money it previously collected from high-income taxpayers and put it into the HSMA program and SNAP. This question was put to voters because of Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which requires the state to return excess tax revenue to the taxpayers unless voters allow the state to keep it.

According to the Colorado secretary of state’s office , Prop LL passed 64.7% to 35.3%, a difference of roughly 425,000 votes.

Prop MM passed with a slightly narrower margin — 58.1% for and 41.9% against, representing a difference of about 236,000 votes — according to the Colorado secretary of state’s office. Prop MM asked to raise up to $95 million annually by reducing the itemized or standard state income tax deductions high-income earners can claim. Currently, those deductions stand at $12,000 for single filers and $16,000 for joint filers. With the passage of Prop MM, these will drop to $1,000 and $2,000, respectively.

The Colorado secretary of state’s office estimates that Coloradans with a federal taxable income of $300,000 or more will see their income taxes increase by an average of $486 as a result of the passage of Prop MM.

Texans Opt for Untaxed Feed and Money for Water

Just under 16% of Texas voters turned out to voice their desires on two different amendments to the state constitution. Proposition 4 asked voters if the state could ear-mark up to $1 billion in its sales and use taxes for water infrastructure, and Prop 5 asked voters to not count animal feed stored for retail sale among property taxes. Both passed with noteworthy margins.

Prop 4 passed with a more than 40 percentage-point spread at 70.4% in favor and 29.6% opposed, a difference of about 1.2 million votes, according to the Texas secretary of state’s office .

The state constitutional amendment proposed to earmark the first $1 billion dollars after $46.5 billion is collected via sales and use taxes each fiscal year for the Texas Water Fund. This fund, administered by the Texas Water Development Board, goes to fund other water-related projects and initiatives throughout the state.

The amendment also requires that no less than 50% of the money that goes into the Texas Water Fund as a result of this measure must go to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund and/or the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas . Together, these two funds focus on increasing water supplies in the state. This can be through efforts like reservoir building, recapture and reuse projects, acquiring water or water rights from nearby states, or desalination efforts.

Prop 5 passed with 63.6% voting in favor and 36.4% voting against. With the passage of this amendment, “animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail” will no longer be subject to property tax. According to Texas state Rep. Cody Harris, R-District 8, who authored the bill, the amendment will bring added consistency to how the state handles animal feed as it relates to taxes.

Across the state, only 15.7% of eligible Texas voters cast their vote on this issue. Perhaps unsurprisingly, however, voter turnout for this amendment was higher in small, rural counties.

Food, Water and Ag on the Ballot in Colorado, Texas

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:13:41 GMT

Presidential elections get a lot of attention. Attention starts dropping off for midterm elections. But off-year elections? Voters might not even know about them.

This year, on Nov. 4, citizens in at least 22 states will get to vote on a variety of state- and local-level positions and issues. Most ballot items deal with local nitty-gritty issues like school board members, bonds and city council representatives, but some will feature state-level issues as well.

Colorado and Texas in particular have four ballot measures that deal with food access and ag-adjacent concerns.

Colorado’s Food-Funding Props LL and MM

Every Colorado voter will be asked two statewide ballot issues: Propositions LL and MM . Both deal with food funding via tax changes, though neither create new taxes.

Prop LL asks voters if the state can keep the $12.43 million excess tax money it collected from high-income taxpayers following the creation of the state’s universal free Healthy School Meals for All program in 2022. The money would fund the program and, eventually, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the state. According to Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, any tax revenue collected in excess of estimates proposed to voters must be returned unless citizens vote to let the state keep it.

Prop MM would reduce the tax deduction levels for the same high-income Colorado taxpayers who paid excess taxes for the HSMA program. Currently, the itemized or standard tax deductions are $12,000 for single filers and $16,000 for joint filers. The measure proposes to reduce these levels to $1,000 and $2,000 respectively. The additional revenue generated from this would also go to fund the HSMA program and SNAP. If passed by voters, the state estimates that up to $95 million could be generated by the measure.

The HSMA program provides universal free breakfasts and lunches to all Colorado public school students rather than just those students who qualify based on economic need. Eligibility for free or reduced-cost school meals for students are often tied to household eligibility for support programs, such as SNAP, WIC and Medicare. The passage of the Federal Budget Reconciliation tightened eligibility standards for such programs across the country. Nonprofit group Illuminate Colorado estimates that almost 300,000 Colorado families will lose some or all of their SNAP benefits as a result.

Every registered Colorado voter should have received a ballot by mail. Ballots must be dropped off at designated drop boxes or at polling places by 7 p.m. on Nov. 4. Voters who opt to vote in-person can do so, but they must return their unused mailed ballots. For more information, visit the Colorado secretary of state’s voter information page .

Propping Up Water Funds With Texas’ Prop 4

Proposition 4 asks Texas voters to amend the state’s constitution to get more dedicated funding for water infrastructure in the state. Water in the arid state is already a pressing agricultural issue , particularly since the state largely depends on increasingly late, short and unreliable water deliveries from Mexico . But the state’s population is also growing rapidly, according to the Texas Water Development Board , and there is already a massive funding shortfall for the state’s water infrastructure needs.

Rather than create a new tax, the amendment would earmark up to $1 billion per year of the state’s existing sales and use tax revenue for the Texas Water Fund for 20 years, starting September 2027. The Texas Water fund would get the first $1 billion in sales and use tax revenue after $46.5 billion was collected each fiscal year. According to the Texas comptroller , the state brought in $47.2 billion in sales and use tax revenue in 2024.

The Texas Water Fund was established in 2023 is administered by the TWDB, which has the mission to “ensure a secure water future for Texas.” The fund’s money can be used for water infrastructure efforts, including reservoir-building efforts, as well as funding other water-related programs TWDB already oversees.

Taking Off Texas Taxes on Animal Feed

Texans will also be asked to weigh in on Proposition 5 . This is another proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that would exempt animal feed held on a property for retail sale from property taxes.

The amendment was authored by Texas state Rep. Cody Harris, R-District 8. In his analysis document, Harris notes that “animal feed is typically exempt from taxation at each location or transaction during its life cycle,” except for when it is inventory and the amendment “seeks to address this inconsistency.”

Texas voters can vote early through Oct. 31 or vote on Election Day, Nov. 4. Texas voters can find their polling places as well as Election Day information here .

Your next read:

Do Tariffs Work? Leading Ag Economists Weigh In

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:40:22 GMT

Tariffs are a tool used by both the President-elect Donald Trump during his first term and the current Biden administration. But do they work? Not even ag economists are in alignment, as the answer seems to be: It depends.

Trump didn’t shy away from his tariff stance on the campaign trail. He reinforced his plan to impose a 10% tariff on all imported goods and a 60% tariff on goods from China. And his latest threat is against Mexico, saying he will implement a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico if they don’t secure the border. Mexico is now threatening to fight back with tariffs of its own.

Trump has talked about increasing tariffs on foreign goods, particularly those from China. He has argued such import taxes would keep manufacturing jobs in the U.S., shrink the federal deficit and help lower food prices.

As Trump makes his key cabinet and advisory picks at a historic pace, the Financial Times reported last week that Robert Lighthizer could make an encore performance as the U.S. trade representative , and if his previous track record is any indication of what’s to come, tariffs will be a tool used by the Trump administration again.

“Trump and Bob Lighthizer are two peas in a pod when it comes to using tariffs to get what they want in among our trading allies,” says Jim Wiesemeyer, Farm Journal Washington correspondent.

So, that begs the question: Do tariffs work?

It’s something Farm Journal asked the nearly 70 ag economists that are part of the Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor. The survey asked economists: “Do tariffs work in trade policy?” Economists views were mixed:

“Tariffs can work in trade policy — that’s why nations continue to use them. The complex part that extends beyond the tariff action is potential long-term repercussions that can result from trade flow changes.”
“In limited cases, typically only if they result in a policy response in the targeted country. Much of the time, tariffs are like cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face.”
“Tariffs provide short-term gains but have always failed relative to free trade in the long term.”
“Absolutely, when properly applied.”
“Not over the long term. They tend to affect who gets to supply different markets around the world.”

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor also asked: “When tariffs are used as a ‘tool’ in trade, who pays the tariff?” Not all economists were aligned on that answer either, saying sometimes it’s farmers and consumers, but it can also be the exporting countries.

“When the U.S. imposes tariffs on imports, importers in the U.S. pay taxes to the U.S. government on their purchases from abroad. When another nation imposes tariffs, importers in that nation pay import taxes to their government on their purchases from abroad. Often, when a tariff is implemented, another nation retaliates, and you end up with importers in both nations paying the price on whatever products the tariffs apply toward.”
“If an importing country places a tariff on the exporting country, producers in the exporting country and consumers in the importing country both lose (i.e., receive lower and higher prices, respectively). Conversely, producers in the importing country and consumers in the exporting country win (i.e., receive higher and lower prices, respectively).”
“In the short run, consumers who purchase goods with a tariff might see higher prices if the tariff is not absorbed elsewhere. In the long run, the tariff might result in changes to the supply chain that result in higher prices but also create other economic opportunities in America (e.g. reshoring of domestic manufacturing).”
“The correct economist answer is: It depends. Tariffs drive a wedge between prices in the exporting country and in the importing country. It depends on the circumstances of particular markets and how much is reflected in higher prices in the importing country and reduced prices in the exporting country.”
“Both the exporting nation and the importing consumer pay some portion of the tariff depending on who has more flexibility to adjust to trade barrier. If exporting countries can easily switch to supplying other markets, they won’t have to ‘pay.’ If consumers can easily find cheap substitute goods, they won’t have to pay.”

Trump threatened tariffs on Deere

During a policy roundtable in Smithton, Pa., organized by the Protecting America Initiative this fall, Trump made significant statements regarding John Deere and its plans to move some production to Mexico. Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on John Deere products if the company proceeds with its plan to relocate some of its manufacturing operations to Mexico.

“I’m just notifying John Deere right now. If you do that, we’re putting a 200% tariff on everything that you want to sell into the United States,” Trump says. “So that if I win, John Deere is going to be paying a 200%. They haven’t started it yet. Maybe they haven’t even made the final decision yet. But I think they have — John Deere is going to and anybody else that does this because it’s hurting our farmers. It’s hurting our manufacturing.”

Farm Journal asked economists the likely outcome if Trump did follow through with tariffs. Here’s what they said:

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Congress Finally Reports Progress in the Omnibus Spending Bill

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 20:45:20 GMT

House and Senate Appropriations committee leaders announced Tuesday evening they had reached agreement on “a bipartisan, bicameral framework” that will allow them to complete details of the omnibus spending bill, eliminating the threat of an extended stopgap measure or potential government shutdown.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says the package must be passed by end of day Dec. 22.

“We intend not to be back here between Christmas and New Year’s, and if we can’t meet that deadline, we would be happy to pass a short-term CR into early next year,” he said.

The topline agreement will allow lawmakers to spend the coming week hashing out specific spending levels for each federal agency as well as what additional legislative items they will attach to the bill, likely including an extension of the Emergency Relief Program (EP), and a possible aid program for rice producers.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday he expects the legislation will include aid for Ukraine, as well as a bipartisan bill raising the bar for challenging presidential election results.

Spending Bill Next Steps

Congress is expected to approve a one-week stopgap spending bill this week to extend the funding deadline from Dec. 16 to Dec. 23. The House will vote at about noon on the rule for consideration of the week-long stopgap.

The rule also would send a separate bill back to the Senate to be used as a vehicle for an eventual omnibus funding package, a maneuver that’s meant to expedite a final vote in the Senate.

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Impact of the Elections on Farm Bill 2023

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:04:14 GMT

The farm bill debate depends in part on who controls the House because leadership of the Ag Committee would see definite changes if the GOP wins.

In the Senate

Veteran Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) will lead the Ag panel, assuming she does not jump to another spot. She is up for re-election in 2024. She has proven a staunch defender of her interests in farm bill battles in the past (specialty crops, urban farming, etc.).

During the last farm bill, moderate GOP Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), who led the Ag Committee, gave Stabenow billions of dollars for her favorite policy items, a reason why the farm bill sailed through the Senate.

No southern-state lawmaker will lead the Ag panel as the Democrats retained control of the Senate. That means Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) will be the ranking member, making sure southern interests are addressed among a usual Midwest state bias during the debate.

The Fate of the Farm Bill

The bill all depends on the funding level for food and nutrition, which take up around 85% of all farm bill spending.

If Republicans control the House and get too aggressive on altering the food stamp (SNAP) program, history shows this is not how to get a farm bill enacted. If the GOP wins control of the House, many veteran farm bill observers signal a one-year extension, largely due to the work new leadership must do relative to hearings, etc.

Current Poll Counts

As of early Tuesday, Republicans held on to two congressional seats in California and one in New York, putting them one win away from wresting control of the House of Representatives from the Democrats.

The GOP scored a pair of big wins on Monday night with wins in AZ1 and AZ6. The GOP also won a pair of seats in California, along with one in upstate New York.

Nate Cohn writes in the New York Times that Republicans “would be on track to win 221 seats if the latest trends continued, though several of these races remain so close that they could easily go the other way.”

More on elections:

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Trump Cabinet nominees now up odds for expanding U.S. trade/economic war with China

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:08:23 GMT

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as commerce secretary highlights plans to leverage tariffs in trade negotiations, with Lutnick emphasizing their use as both a revenue source and bargaining tool.

Lutnick has called the tariffs a negotiating tool that could be used to convince other countries to bring down their own levies or to force companies to move production to the U.S. He has said Trump would avoid taxes on products U.S. companies don’t make.

Commerce oversees the International Trade Administration, an agency in charge of enforcing trade laws and investigating unfair trade practices.

The appointment raises questions about the role of Robert Lighthizer, a prominent China hawk and decoupling advocate, who might still secure a key position such as National Economic Council leader or ambassador to China. The nomination marks Lutnick’s transition from co-chair of Trump’s transition team to a pivotal role in shaping U.S. economic policy.

Of note: Trump said that the commerce secretary would have “additional direct responsibility for the office of the U.S. trade representative.” The phrase means that Trump may try to fold the latter position within the Commerce Department, a move that has been tried before to combine government trade work.

Trump’s trade agenda is heavily focused on imposing substantial tariffs, particularly targeting China. He has proposed a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and 10% to 20% tariffs on imports from other countries. Lutnick has been a vocal supporter of these tariffs, suggesting they could replace income tax revenue over time. He believes that by making U.S. businesses more competitive through tariffs, it could lead to lower overall tax rates.

Lutnick’s vision aligns with Trump’s historical approach to trade, which emphasizes protectionism to bolster U.S. manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports. During a recent rally, Lutnick remarked that U.S. economic prosperity in the early 1900s was due to tariffs rather than income taxes, indicating his belief in a return to such policies. Lutnick has said the incoming administration would use tariffs as a bargaining chip with other countries. “We’ll make a bunch of money on the tariffs, but mostly everybody else is going to negotiate with us,” he said on CNBC.

Lutnick’s appointment signals an aggressive stance on trade that could lead to increased tensions with trading partners. The Commerce Department plays a crucial role in enforcing tariffs and negotiating trade agreements, which may become contentious under Lutnick’s leadership. Economists have expressed concerns that such high tariffs could lead to retaliatory measures from other nations, potentially resulting in higher prices for consumers and disruptions in global supply chains.

On China, Lutnick has accused the country of being the source of fentanyl in the U.S., saying that “China is attacking America from its guts.” Kevin Chen, associate research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told the South China Morning Post, “There is little question that he will push forward with tariffs That being said, he has also suggested that the tariffs could be used to negotiate trade deals with other countries,” he said. Chen suggested that the choice of Lutnick — alongside other China hawks joining Trump’s team including Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Mike Waltz as national security adviser — could be “very dangerous for U.S./China relations” given the Commerce Department’s oversight of export controls.

“Lutnick is likely to focus tariffs on China’s manufacturing sector, especially for goods that the U.S. already produces. The likelihood of this leading to another U.S./China trade war is too high to ignore,” he said. “Lutnick fits in well with the trend of Trump’s cabinet picks … [as] he’s a China hawk who shares Trump’s strong views on the threat posed by China and how to address it.”

Asked about Lutnick’s nomination, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said he would not comment on U.S. internal affairs but added that a trade war “will not produce any winner and is in no one’s interest.”

Treasury secretary possibilities

Trump is taking a closer look at Sen. Bill Hagerty, (R-Tenn., to potentially serve as treasury secretary, Axios reports. Hagerty, a former private-equity investor who was Trump’s ambassador to Japan, is one of three apparent finalists, along with former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and Apollo CEO Marc Rowan. The treasury position is key as the Cabinet member will play in a key role in major issues, including:

Rising federal debt.
Enacting Trump’s tax cut plan.
Helping implement Trump’s tariff plans.
Coming up with pay-for plans.
Keeping inflation low.
Implementing 45Z and other biofuel tax incentive programs (IRS).

U.S. businesses brace for potential Trump tariffs

U.S. companies are accelerating inventory orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration, fearing the implementation of his proposed tariffs on imports. Trump has suggested levies of 10% to 20% on all imports and up to 60% on Chinese goods. Firms are also strategizing for potential impacts, including price adjustments and diversifying away from Chinese manufacturers, the Wall Street Journal reports ( link ).

Tariffs and pricing impacts

Walmart acknowledged the retailer would probably raise prices on some goods if Trump moves forward with plans to enact sweeping tariffs. Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey stated that prices on some items may increase but it is uncertain which products might see price hikes due to the tariffs. A Walmart spokesperson indicated that any price changes are speculative, but future tariff-induced costs could burden sensitive shoppers.

Lowe’s words were more circumspect, with the home-improvement retailer’s executives noting tariffs would lift costs but also saying they were waiting to see what happens when the new administration takes office in January.

Walmart said shoppers are resilient but are still spending more on food than they have historically.

Lowe’s said homeowners are still waiting for lower interest rates to embark on big home-improvement projects.

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Reports Now Say Trump to Tap Texas Native Brooke Rollins For Agriculture Secretary

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 02:26:21 GMT

Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, has officially been selected to serve as USDA Secretary. President-elect Donald Trump made the announcement Saturday, saying her “commitment to support the American farmer, the defense of American food self-sufficiency and the restoration of agriculture-dependent American small towns is second to none.”

Rollins is the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a think tank established by former Trump officials to promote conservative policies. AFPI has advocated for curbing foreign ownership — particularly from China — of U.S. farmland, an issue with bipartisan support in Congress. She served as the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) from 2003 to 2018, where she significantly expanded the organization and positioned it as a leading state-based think tank.

During Trump’s first term, she served as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives. In these roles, she was instrumental in shaping key domestic policies across various sectors.

Rollins has strong ties to key figures in Trump first administration, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Her relationships within this network might facilitate collaboration on agricultural policies and initiatives.

Educational Background
Rollins holds a degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University in 1994, where she also became the first female student body president.

Her educational credentials are complemented by her practical experience, having grown up on a farm in Texas.

Rollins thanked Trump on X (formerly Twitter) Saturday following the announcement, saying: “It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX — truly the American Dream at its greatest,” Rollins said in her X post.

Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX — truly the… https://t.co/h91Zx3eEgl pic.twitter.com/DLgxrmZhH6
— Brooke Rollins (@BrookeLRollins) November 23, 2024

Given her educational background and professional focus, Rollins has developed insights into agricultural policies, trade issues and rural development, which are critical for USDA’s mission.

3 Key Focus Areas
In her new role, Rollins is expected to focus on several key areas, including:

Support for American farmers. Rollins has expressed a strong commitment to advocating for American farmers, emphasizing food self-sufficiency and the revitalization of agriculture-dependent small towns.
Trade policies. A significant challenge will be managing Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports, which aim to boost domestic production but could disrupt critical export markets for U.S. farmers. Rollins will need to navigate these complex trade dynamics while supporting agricultural interests.
Rural development. Her background and personal connection to rural America position her well to address issues affecting rural communities, including economic development and food assistance programs.

Of all the incredible notes and well wishes and good lucks I have received over the last 24 hours, the one that perhaps means the most came from Gary Rosenbusch, my ag teacher at Glen Rose High School who changed my life forever.

When people ask about my upbringing in a tiny… pic.twitter.com/VTQXPTtVMd
— Brooke Rollins (@BrookeLRollins) November 24, 2024

Bottomline:

Rollins is going to be an impact player in the Trump administration. And will be highly effective on issues impacting ag and food that are in the purview of other Federal Departments and agencies.

Her nomination reflects Trump’s broader strategy of appointing loyalists with deep ties to his administration as he seeks to advance his economic agenda in a potential second term. Her leadership at AFPI has prepared her for this role, aligning with Trump’s vision of prioritizing American interests in agriculture and beyond.

As she steps into this pivotal position, Rollins will be tasked with not only implementing agricultural policies, but also addressing the challenges posed by current trade practices and supporting the livelihoods of American farmers amidst changing economic conditions.

Last-Minute Change?

Trump also had considered nominating former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, whom he has already tapped to co-chair his inaugural committee, to serve as Agriculture Secretary, CNN reported Friday. CNN initially said Trump was poised to offer the post to Loeffler, who reportedly met with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on Friday afternoon.

CNN said there had been several discussions between Loeffler and the transition team regarding the position. “But Trump held off from announcing his Agriculture pick as he issued a slew of others Friday night, raising questions about whether Loeffler was ultimately offered the post.”

New Names Surface for Trump's Secretary of Ag Pick; Here's the Complete List

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:00:11 GMT

Agriculture continues to await President-elect’s announcement on who will be named the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. As the list continues to evolve, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly playing an active role in the cabinet selection.

As AgWeb first reported last week, there were originally 15 people being considered for Secretary of Agriculture. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has since been tapped by Trump for Interior Secretary. He will also lead the newly created National Energy Council. And Senate Ag committee member Cindy-Hyde Smith (R-Miss.) says she plans to stay in Congress.

With one addition to the original list, that leaves the 14 possible picks for the next Secretary of Agriculture:

Charles Herbster. A Trump donor who led his 2024 rural campaign coalition, Herbster is a fifth-generation farmer, born and raised in Falls City, Neb. Today, he is CEO and President of Carico Farms, Herbster Angus Farms and the Conklin Company. Trump appointed Herbster as his National Chairman of the Agricultural and Rural Advisory Committee.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller. Serving in this role since January 2015, Miller was born in 1955 in De Leon, Texas and has deep roots in the state’s agriculture industry. He is a cattle rancher, a farmer and owner of a commercial nursery business. He served six terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. Miller was first elected as Texas Agriculture Commissioner in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He granted “amnesty to cupcakes” as his first official action, drawing attention to the repeal of a ban on junk food in schools. Recently, he issued an executive order allowing Texas farmers to use water from the Rio Grande for irrigation to address water shortage concerns. Miller has faced criticism. He awarded significant bonuses to staffers and created high-paying positions for political allies early in his tenure. Miller has recently been sounding the alarm about water shortages in Texas, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley.
Sarah Frey. She is the founder and CEO of Frey Farms, a company she established at the age of 16. Frey grew up on a struggling farm in southern Illinois as the youngest of 21 children. At the age of 15, Sarah started her own fresh produce delivery business using an old pickup. Several years later, she took over the family farm, which was facing foreclosure, and purchased it outright. This bold move marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey in agriculture. Under Sarah’s leadership, Frey Farms has grown into a major agricultural enterprise: It is now the largest producer of pumpkins in the U.S. The company owns approximately 15,000 acres of farmland across seven states. Besides pumpkins, Frey Farms produces watermelons, cantaloupes, sweet corn and hard squash. She is an advocate for better health initiatives, nutrition policies and economic opportunities for underserved rural communities. In 2020, she published a best-selling memoir, The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life—and Saved an American Farm.
Ray Starling. A prominent figure in agriculture policy and law with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, Starling currently serves as the general counsel of the NC Chamber and president of the NC Chamber Legal Institute. In these roles, he sets litigation strategy and leads public policy development, focusing on issues affecting businesses in North Carolina. Previously, Starling held several high-profile positions in the federal government, including chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue; principal agriculture adviser to the president of the United States at the White House; and special assistant to the president for agriculture, trade and food assistance on the White House National Economic Council . He also worked as chief of staff and chief counsel for U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. He grew up on a century family farm in southeastern North Carolina.
Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto. She is an American attorney, businesswoman and biologist who served as the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from 2019 to 2021. She began her career at Monsanto in 2006, working her way up to sustainable agriculture partnership manager. When confirmed as the director of the USFWS on Dec. 12, 2019, she became the first African American to hold this position before leaving office on Jan. 19, 2021. She currently serves as the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality since January 2024.
Gregg Doud. He served as the chief agricultural negotiator with the rank of ambassador in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 1, 2018. In this role, Doud was responsible for conducting and overseeing international negotiations related to trade in agricultural products. His background is deeply rooted in agriculture as he grew up on a dryland wheat, grain sorghum, soybean, swine and cow-calf operation near Mankato, Kan., which he remains involved with today. Doud is currently the president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). Prior to joining NMPF, he worked at Aimpoint Research, a global intelligence firm specializing in agriculture and food.
Kip Tom. The Indiana farmer transformed his family’s farm, Tom Farms, into one of the largest farming operations in the state. From April 2019 to January 2021, he served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture , based in Rome, Italy. Tom was named the 2007 Top Producer of the Yea r by Farm Journal. Also of note, he helped celebrate Donald Trump’s victory on election night at The Mar-a-Lago Club.
Abel Maldonado. Said to be at or near the top of possibilities, Maldonado was the California Lt. Gov. from April 27, 2010, to Jan. 10, 2011. He is the oldest son of immigrant field workers and grew up working alongside his father picking strawberries to help support the family. He ran unsuccessfully for California’s 24th congressional district in 2012 and briefly ran for governor in the 2014 election. He was considered for USDA Secretary by Donald Trump in 2017, but was not ultimately nominated. He is currently the owner of Runway Vineyards in Santa Maria, Calif.
Former House Ag Chairman Mike Conaway. Now a private consultant, Conaway is the only person not in office who has negotiated a farm bill, led an investigation resulting in debunking the Russia hoax, turned USDA upside down to investigate where all the debt relief and climate money has gone, knows rural America, and aligned with Trump on needed SNAP reforms.
Current House Ag Chairman Rep. Glenn Thompson. The Republican U.S. representative currently serves Pennsylvania’s 15th congressional district and is the chairman of the House Ag Committee. Prior to entering politics, Thompson had a 28-year career in healthcare. He worked as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager and licensed nursing home administrator. Thompson was first elected to Congress in 2008, representing Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district. In 2018, due to redistricting, he began representing the 15th district. In 2018, Thompson supported new work and job training requirements for SNAP (food stamp) beneficiaries. Thompson has been actively involved in crafting the 2024 farm bill.
Zippy Duvall. Since January 2016, he has served as the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). Duvall is a third-generation farmer from Georgia with deep roots in agriculture. He operates a farm in Georgia, currently raising beef cattle and broiler chickens and produces more than 750,000 broilers per year with his wife, Jennifer. Prior to his role as AFBF president, Duvall served as the president of the Georgia Farm Bureau for nine years.
Rep. Thomas Massie. The rebel House conservative is one most consider a long shot choice, but his name surfaced on social media last week. Massie was interviewed by Tucker Carlson in June, where he talked about his “off-the-grid home” on his Kentucky farm where he has chickens and grows food on his property. More recently, Massie has been promoting the benefits of raw milk versus pasteurized milk.
Ted McKinney. Currently, McKinney serves as CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Before that he was Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (2017 to 2021) and director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (2014 to 2017). McKinney worked for 19 years with Dow AgroSciences and 14 years with Elanco, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, where he was director of global corporate affairs.
Jimmy Emmons. The senior vice president of climate-smart programs for Trust In Food, Farm Journal’s sustainable agriculture division , who is currently on leave of absence from Farm Journal, is also a nationally recognized no-till farmer, regenerative rancher and soil-health expert. He leads Trust In Food’s national programs to accelerate the adoption of conservation agriculture. Emmons and his wife, Ginger, own and operate Emmons Farm in Leedey, Okla. Prior to Trust in Food, he was regional coordinator for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation, where he supported operational and business functions across the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency.

Of note: If Trump makes his selection soon, it will be quicker than previous nominations for the position. Trump’s previous USDA secretary nomination, Sonny Perdue, did not occur until Jan 19, 2017, the day before inauguration and more than two months after the election. Under the Biden administration, multiple news sources reported then President-elect Joe Biden selected Tom Vilsack as his nominee for Secretary of Agriculture on Dec. 9, 2020.

Burgum As Energy Czar

Burgum, who’d previously been in the running for possible Agriculture Secretary, was named Trump’s energy czar in addition to leading Interior. This announcement came Friday. Burgum, North Dakota governor and former software executive, is positioned to become a pivotal figure in U.S. energy and climate policy under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Appointed as both Interior Department chief and head of the newly formed National Energy Council, Burgum will have extensive influence over federal energy policies and agencies. His focus on oil, gas production, carbon capture, and hydrogen energy aligns with advancing domestic energy goals, though environmentalists criticize his pro-fossil fuel stance and lack of conservation expertise. While not dismissing climate concerns outright, Burgum’s approach contrasts with Trump’s skepticism about climate change.

Trump also nominated Chris Wright as Energy Secretary. He currently is CEO of Colorado-based Liberty Energy Inc. and is known for his support of oil and natural gas fracking. He has championed fossil fuels as essential to global prosperity, while downplaying the severity of climate change. In his statement, Trump highlighted Wright’s contributions to the U.S. energy sector, noting his role in advancing the American shale revolution. Trump emphasized Wright’s experience in various energy fields, including nuclear, solar, geothermal, and oil and gas. Wright’s confirmation would place him on a new Council of National Energy, which will be led by Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick for Interior Secretary.

Your Next Reads:

Trump Taps Lee Zeldin to Lead EPA; What Does It Signal for Agriculture?

Washington Insiders Weigh in on What the Election Means for Agriculture

Could 100% Bonus Depreciation Make a Return Under a Trump 2.0 Administration?

Robot Crop Pickers Limit Loss of Farm Workers to Trump Wall

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:29:07 GMT

Robotic devices like lettuce thinners and grape-leaf pullers have replaced so many human hands on U.S. farms in recent years that many jobs now held by illegal workers may not exist by the time Donald Trump builds his promised wall.

For many American farmers, the automation push isn’t just about the President-elect’s goal to seal the border with Mexico, the traditional source of cheap migrant labor for the world’s largest agricultural exporter. There just aren’t enough crop pickers around as immigration slows, deportations rise and the prospects of congressional reform look remote.

That’s what prompted Steve Tennnes, a fruit and vegetable grower in Charlotte, Michigan, to buy a $138,000 machine that can collect up to three times as many apples per hour than workers who currently use ladders and buckets, and do so more safely. He will be able to harvest more with fewer workers, and the benefits will expand as he replants his orchard over the next decade to make it easier for the device to operate among the trees.

“The trade-off isn’t, do you want a machine or do you want workers,” Tennes, 39, said by telephone from his 120-acre farm, where he employs 72 workers and produces apples, peaches, blueberries, cherries, pumpkins and sweet corn. “It’s do you want to be in business or do you not want to be in business.”

While seasonal hiring has slowed, average pay has increased.

© Bloomberg

After three straight years of declining U.S. farm income, sources of labor are becoming increasingly unreliable and costly, especially with illegal immigration likely to face a crackdown in the Trump administration. That’s forcing more growers to invest in machines that reduce human involvement in the production cycle.

More than 300,000 U.S. farm-workers don’t have valid immigration papers, according to a 2009 survey by the Pew Hispanic Center. Other studies suggest the number may be more than 1 million, based on the seasonality of the work and historical trends. That would be a sizable chunk of the more than 2.6 million jobs that the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated for domestic farms last year.

Fewer Workers

But the supply of immigrant workers has been tightening. According to a Labor Department survey, in 1998, about 22 percent of foreign farm workers were in the U.S. for the first time. By 2013, that figure had plunged to 2 percent. Fewer are arriving illegally, and those who do come don’t want farm work, said Craig Regelbrugge, co-chairman of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, a group of employers based in Washington.

The consequences are potentially dire, and could mean higher prices for some foods, according to a 2014 study from the American Farm Bureau Federation. An immigration policy focused on closing the border would shift up to 61 percent of fruit production to other countries, sending jobs to Mexico and other nearby competitors, according the the biggest U.S. farmer group.

The government should create a new agricultural guest-worker program and streamline an immigration bureaucracy that currently keeps legal workers from entering the U.S., said Kristi Boswell, a Farm Bureau lobbyist.

“We support border security,” Boswell said. “We will be looking for opportunities to use the enforcement pieces to make sure that agriculture has access to a new program.”

Compared to any other region or state, California has the most agriculture jobs.

© Bloomberg

In the meantime, the prospect of tougher restrictions is ginning up more interest in machines from farmers who previously shied away from such big investments, according to Tony Koselka, the co-founder of Vision Robotics Corp. in San Diego. The company sells lettuce-thinning machines for as much as $430,000 that reduce the need for hand-picking of the perishable crop.

The vineyards in Lodi, California, owned by Brad Goehring are adding mechanical leaf-pullers to the automated harvesters that already reduced his need for migrant grape-pickers by 95 percent. While his non-harvest workforce remained stable, he now needs just 15 people to pick the grapes, down from 300 before the machines.

‘De-Incentivizing Labor’

“The machine shows up to work every day,” said Goehring, 52, a fourth-generation farmer who started mechanizing in 2008. “The government is de-incentivizing ourselves from having labor,” said Goehring, a one-time Republican congressional candidate who said he voted for Trump for his pro-business views.

Machinery manufacturers are likely to keep focusing on reducing costs for robotics and automation, according to a report from Boston-based Lux Research Inc., written by Sara Olson and Laura Lee. For example, Case IH, the agricultural-machinery unit of CNH Industrial NV, last year unveiled a concept for an autonomous tractor.

While the slow march of mechanization is hardly new in the U.S. -- where John Deere’s steel plow revolutionized Midwest farming almost two centuries ago and helped give birth to a global agricultural powerhouse -- many innovations have been tied to stricter immigration policies.

Mechanical tomato-pickers began showing up in California in the late 1960s, after the end of a program that allowed temporary Mexican harvest workers into the U.S. In American dairies, which operate year-round and struggle to find workers under the government’s six-month H-2A farmworker visas, farmers have been shifting to robots that do everything from milking to feeding to cleaning the cows.

By Hand

Even with all the technological advances, there are many crops that still require human hands, at least for now, said Wallace Huffman, an agricultural economist with Iowa State University in Ames. Machines typically work better for foods grown for processing rather than those sold in grocery stories, because many consumers demand an unblemished appearance, he said.

“The soft fruits, the berries, the strawberries and blueberries are very delicate,” Huffman said. “They can easily be bruised and smashed, even by hand. Trying to move to mechanical picking is difficult.”

Still, with new devices being developed and Trump’s push to limit illegal immigration, the industry is accelerating its shift to automation.

“Labor shortages are the main driver of the economics of what we’re doing,” said Charles Grinnell, the chief executive officer of Harvest Automation Inc. in Billerica, Massachusetts, which produces robots for $32,000 apiece designed to harvest plants in greenhouses. “It’s hard to know if it’s the election of Trump or something else. But there really is a sense from our customers that, ‘Hey, let’s get this done.’ ”

Trump's Deportation Vow Spurs California Farmers Into Action

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:29:12 GMT

Days after Donald Trump won the White House vowing to deport millions of people in the country illegally and fortify the Mexican border, California farmer Kevin Herman ordered nearly $600,000 in new equipment, cutting the number of workers he’ll need starting with the next harvest.

Herman, who grows figs, persimmons and almonds in the nation’s most productive farming state, said Trump’s comments pushed him to make the purchase, larger than he would have otherwise.

“No doubt about it,” Herman said. “I probably wouldn’t have spent as much or bought as much machinery as I did.”

Others in California’s farming industry say Trump’s tough campaign talk targeting immigrants in the country illegally — including a vast number of farmworkers — spurred them into action, too.

They’re calling on congressional representatives to educate the incoming president on the workforce it takes to feed the country, and they’re assuring workers they’ll protect them.

San Joaquin Valley farmer Joe Del Bosque recently gathered about 20 year-round employees at a Los Banos steakhouse for their annual holiday lunch.

The festivities began in a serious tone. The topic of immigration took a bigger part of the conversation this year because of Trump, he said.

Del Bosque told his crew he’ll make sure the new administration knows their vital role in the farming industry. It’s a message Del Bosque wants his managers to spread to another 300 seasonal workers needed at the harvest’s peak.

Leticia Alfaro, a food-safety supervisor at the farm, said in an interview that many of her friends who work in the fields don’t have proper documentation like her, and they take Trump’s threats seriously.

“They’re terrified by his comments,” Alfaro, 53, said in Spanish.

They fear being deported and torn from their children who were born here, she said. After Trump takes office, they wonder if it will be safe to make a simple trip to the grocery store, fearing checkpoints where they’ll be pulled over and have to show their documentation.

Trump’s remarks were felt sharply in California, which produces nearly half the country’s fruits, vegetables and nuts valued at $47 billion annually. Experts say his words resonate nationwide.

Texas, Florida and Georgia are examples of states with large migrant communities dominating home construction, health care, food service industries, said David Zonderman, a labor historian at North Carolina State University.

“California might be ground zero,” he said of immigrant families living in the shadows. “But it’s not a unique California issue.”

The fear stems from Trump’s campaign rallies, where he received a rousing response each time he vowed to deport people who are in the country illegally — up to 11 million. That position softened after Trump won the election, when he said he’d start with 3 million with criminal records.

Some farmers point to Trump’s postelection shift as a sign his campaign bluster won’t become reality. He is, after all, a businessman like them, they say. But others believe this shift underscores the president-elect’s unpredictable nature.

“Our workers are scared,” said Joe Garcia, a farm labor contractor who hires up to 4,000 people each year to pick grapes from Napa to Bakersfield and along the Central Coast. “If they’re concerned, we’re concerned.”

Since Election Day, Garcia’s crews throughout the state have been asking what will happen to them when Trump takes office. Farmers also are calling to see if they’ll need to pay more to attract people to prune the vines, he said.

Garcia tells farmers not to panic. They’ll learn how many return from Mexico after the holidays. “We’ll plan around what we have,” he tells them. “That’s all we can do.”

Roughly 325,000 workers in California do the back-breaking jobs that farmers say nobody else will do, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Manuel Cunha Jr., president of the Nisei Farmers League farming association, estimates 85 percent of California farmworkers live in the United States illegally.

Farmers for years have scrambled under a shrinking labor pool.

Mexico’s improving economy has slowed the flow of migrant workers. The dangerous border, controlled by drug cartels and human traffickers, keeps away others.

Herman, the farmer who bought three new almond sweepers, said Trump influenced him on top of California’s rising minimum wage and a new law giving farm laborers overtime rights that are equal to workers in other industries.

Plus, Herman said, he’s heard too many workers question whether they’ll return from their holiday trips to Mexico. “It’s stories like that that have motivated me to become efficient and upgrade my equipment,” Herman said.

Tom Nassif, a Trump adviser and president of the powerful trade association Western Growers, said farmers shouldn’t fear the president-elect. Trump isn’t interested in deporting their workers, he said.

Nassif said he isn’t privy to the details of Trump’s immigration policy. He’s recommended that Trump allow farmworkers to stay by putting immigrants in the country illegally who are otherwise law-abiding residents on a period of probation under conditions that they pay taxes, learn English and obey all laws.

“I think he’s looking at people who have committed more serious crimes and start with them first — and rightly so,” said Nassif, picked by Trump’s campaign team to serve on an agriculture advisory committee. “I think there’s less reason to worry than most people believe there is.”

Dairy Farmers Say Trump's Deportations Could Dry Up Milk Supply

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:29:21 GMT

Mark Diederichs wiped a splatter of manure from his arm as four Hispanic workers guided the next 44 cows into stalls, swabbed each animal’s teats with neon-blue disinfectant and attached computer-controlled milking-machine units.

They moved quickly, repeating the thrice-daily process until the Wisconsin dairy’s 2,650 cattle had provided more than 10,000 gallons. If Donald Trump has his way, Diederichs says, the farm he runs may not have enough people to tend the herd because about two-thirds of his 35 full-time workers are immigrants.

Trump’s proposal to deport undocumented immigrants and wall off the southern U.S. border has created an unexpected bastion of resistance: dairy farmers.

Unlike farms that operate with a seasonal rhythm, milk operations function around the clock, 365 days a year, making short-term guest-worker programs ill suited. Farmers say they can’t get enough relatives or local workers, even with pay starting at $11 an hour or more -- well above the minimum wage of $7.25 -- with benefits that include a 401(k).

“It’s hard to get people that want to come out and do this type of work,” Diederichs, the 54-year-old general manager at Lake Breeze Dairy in Malone, said in his office after the May 31 morning shift.

Dairy Aisle

Without immigrant labor, dairies would close, output would drop and consumers would pay almost twice as much for milk, according to a study funded by dairy producers that estimated the cost to the U.S. economy at $32 billion. Now that Trump is poised to claim the Republican nomination, even some dairy farmers who lean Republican are undecided or considering supporting Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in November.

“With my group of friends, we kind of joked around and said, ‘Wow, did you ever think you’d vote for Hillary?”’ said Mitch Breunig, a Sauk City farmer who is president of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin.

One third of all U.S. dairy farms employed foreign-born workers in 2014, and half of all workers are immigrants, according to a survey by researchers at Texas A&M University commissioned by the National Milk Producers Federation in Arlington, Virginia.

A complete loss of immigrant labor could mean the elimination of more than 7,000 dairy farms and 208,000 jobs, a reduction in milk production by almost 50 billion pounds, and an increase in retail prices by 90 percent, the report found.

While dairy processors such as Dean Foods Co. won’t speculate about the impact that Trump’s proposals could have on their companies, a substantial decline in production would mean higher costs which would be passed to consumers for milk, cheese, butter and other products, said David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&M who participated in the study.

“You’ve got to have milk to start with,” Anderson said.

No Fat

Dairy farms already are under pressure. Wholesale prices are less than half what they were two years ago, as record U.S. production rose faster than demand. American shoppers paid $3.16 per gallon on average in April, the lowest since 2010, government data show.

Now comes the prospect of losing labor. Trump told voters in Wisconsin before its April 5 primary, which he lost to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, that he supports a visa program to allow workers to come into the U.S. legally. Yet he hasn’t offered details, and as many as 70 percent of agricultural workers are undocumented, said Kristi Boswell, immigration lobbyist with the American Farm Bureau Federation.

In Wisconsin, which is second to California in milk production, about 60 percent of immigrants on dairy farms are undocumented, said Gordon Speirs, a farmer from Brillion and president of the state’s Dairy Business Association.

Farmers say they can’t verify falsified documentation from workers. Milking robots can cost $200,000 each, and critics who say farmers should pay more to get U.S. workers don’t know the business, Speirs said.

“We’re very weary with hearing the statement, ‘Those Mexicans are taking jobs away from Americans,”’ Speirs said. “Come and show up on my door, and I’ll give you the job. But you’ve got to keep your job.”

Low wages are subsidized by taxpayers in the form of welfare, tax credits, education, housing and medical care, Trump policy adviser Stephen Miller said. The reliance on illegal labor also defers cost-reducing mechanization and lowers working conditions, he said.

“Cheap labor is not cheap,” Miller said by e-mail. “Open borders makes us all poorer in the end.”

Alvaro Ramirez, 36, said he came to the U.S. from Zacatecas, Mexico, in 2000 with the help of an uncle in Chicago and has worked in Wisconsin at a packaging plant, stone quarry, warehouse and on dairy farms. He started working for Diederichs about four years ago and now manages the milk parlor.

“To me, it’s not a tough job,” Ramirez said in an interview. He has a permanent resident card, Diederichs said.

Ramirez said while some immigrants are nervous about their futures if Trump gets elected, he doesn’t think the billionaire is serious.

Curdled Appeal

Trump’s immigration stance “scares the hell out me,” said Speirs of the Dairy Business Association. Still, he plans to vote for the billionaire because his proposals aren’t likely to be realized, and he’s better than Clinton on other issues.

While Trump’s anti-immigration stance helped him secure the Republican nomination, it can work against him in a general election -- especially in crucial states such as Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania, said Charles Franklin, director of the Milwaukee-based Marquette Law School poll.

His polls show that only 28 percent of Republicans in Wisconsin favor Trump’s position of deporting all undocumented immigrants without any path to remaining, as do only 8 percent of Democrats and 20 percent of independents.

A May 10 Quinnipiac University poll showed that only 31 percent of voters in Ohio and 27 percent in Pennsylvania support Trump’s position, while a majority in both states oppose his plan to build a wall.

“Donald Trump throwing that out there, that puts a big red flag up for a whole bunch of us in agriculture,” said Matt Andreas, 37, who manages his family’s dairy farm in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Policy Prescriptions: Trump and Clinton on Energy

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:03:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) - Energy independence has been a goal of every president since Richard Nixon, but it remains elusive.

Still, an ongoing drilling boom has lowered dependence on imports of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. In 2015, the U.S. relied on net imports for about 24 percent of petroleum use, the lowest level since 1970.

Domestic production of all types of energy except coal has boomed in recent years, thanks to improved drilling techniques and discoveries of vast oil supplies in North Dakota and Montana and natural gas in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Hydraulic fracturing - a drilling technique better known as fracking - has also increased production in traditional energy states such as Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

After President Barack Obama’s two terms, business and environmental groups see a game-changing election on energy. Donald Trump has vowed to ramp up oil and gas production even further, while rolling back Obama policies aimed at slowing climate change and boosting renewable energy.

Hillary Clinton says she will expand Obama’s climate policies and push even harder for renewable energy such as wind and solar power that have gained under Obama. Meanwhile, Clinton’s comment that she is going to “put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business” has become a rallying cry for the GOP.

Natural gas, cleaner than coal, has been embraced by politicians from both parties, including Clinton and Trump. Still, critics worry that fracking and other techniques such as horizontal drilling could be harming our air, water and health and even causing earthquakes.

Wind and solar power have grown in recent years, thanks in part to support from Obama, but renewable energy sources accounted for just 10 percent of total U.S. energy consumption in 2015. Renewable energy is generally more expensive to produce and use than fossil fuels. Clouds impair solar energy, and calm skies slow wind farms.

Here’s a summary of their proposals:

OIL AND GAS

CLINTON: She generally supports oil and gas drilling on federal lands, but would bar drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. While Clinton would cut subsidies currently given to oil companies, she has said natural gas serves as an important “bridge” to more renewable fuels. She says fracking should not take place where states and local communities oppose it and pledges to reduce methane emissions from all oil and gas production and protect local water supplies. She also would require energy companies to disclose the chemicals used in fracking.

TRUMP: He complains that “energy is under siege by the Obama administration” and vows to “unleash” an American energy revolution, allowing unfettered production of oil, coal and natural gas. He would sharply increase oil and gas drilling on federal lands and open up offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean and other areas where it is blocked.

Trump says restrictions supported by Clinton would hurt energy-producing states such as Colorado, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Virginia - battleground states in the election.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

CLINTON: Pledges that under her leadership, the U.S. will be able to generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America within 10 years, with 500 million solar panels installed by the end of her first term. She also vows to reduce U.S. oil consumption by one-third through cleaner fuels such as biodiesel and natural gas and more fuel-efficient cars, boilers, ships and trucks.

Clinton vows to use tax incentives and other steps to bolster wind and solar power, as well hydroelectricity, geothermal power and other forms of renewable electricity.

TRUMP: Argues that tax credits and other subsidies for wind and solar power “distort” the market, but says the U.S. should “encourage all facets of the energy industry,” including wind and solar power, as a way to achieve energy independence. He has characterized solar energy as an “unproven technology” with a low return on investment and says wind energy has killed birds and is a “very, very poor source of energy.”

COAL

CLINTON: After running as a champion of coal in 2008, Clinton has faced a backlash from coal communities after she declared earlier this year that she was going to “put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.” Clinton has said she misspoke as she tried to reassure voters that her policies would benefit out-of-work miners and other poor people in Appalachia affected by the coal industry’s downturn.

Clinton says she will protect health and pension benefits for coal miners and fight efforts by coal companies to use bankruptcy proceedings to deny benefits to thousands of retired miners and their families. She supports sweeping reforms to the federal black lung benefits program and will adjust black lung benefits to reflect cost-of-living increases.

TRUMP: Vows to revive the struggling U.S coal industry and says the U.S. has enough coal reserves to “last for 1,000 years.” He vows to end “all job-destroying Obama executive actions as well as reduce and eliminate all barriers to responsible energy production.” He says his plan “will end the war on the American worker, putting our coal miners and steel workers back to work.”

CLIMATE CHANGE

CLINTON: Calls climate change a real and urgent problem and says the U.S. can take the global lead in addressing it. She vows to meet Obama’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent by 2025 and says America “can rally the world to cut carbon pollution” while fulfilling “our moral obligation to protect this planet for our children and our grandchildren.”

TRUMP: Calls climate change a “hoax” perpetrated by China and others and says he will rescind Obama’s Clean Power Plan rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the utility sector. The plan, a lynchpin of Obama’s climate strategy, has been delayed by the Supreme Court while legal challenges are heard. Trump also would cancel the 2015 Paris climate agreement and stop U.S. money going to U.N. global warming programs.

NUCLEAR POWER

CLINTON: Offers cautious support for nuclear power, calling it a tool to address climate change.

TRUMP: Says he will ensure the U.S. remains the world’s leader in nuclear energy.

CNN: Dairy Farmers Criticize Trump's Immigration Policy

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:29:32 GMT

Dairy farmers say they’re fed up with the posturing of presidential candidates who don’t understand the importance of immigrant labor to milk producers.

That’s according to “Donald Trump’s Immigration Plan Could Affect the Nation’s Milk Supply,” a CNN piece published March 1, or Super Tuesday, when voters in 13 states and 1 American territory head to the polls for presidential primaries.

Here is an excerpt:

Building a wall on the border with Mexico and deporting all undocumented immigrants has become an applause line at Donald Trump’s rallies and the main policy idea for the GOP front-runner.

But Trump’s promise has sparked fear and frustration among farmers around the country, who, like it or not, depend on immigrant labor.

“I’m angry,” says dairy farmer Mike McMahon, who owns 700 cows in upstate New York, which is now the third-largest dairy producing state and the biggest producer of greek yogurt in the country.

“For someone like Trump or Cruz to say they are going to send them all back is short-sighted because so much of our food supply is dependent on their labor,” he said.

According to the National Milk Producers Federation, 41% of dairy farm workers are immigrants. Overall, there are about 2.5 million farm workers in the U.S, and anywhere from half to more than two-thirds of them are undocumented, according to experts.

Dairy farmers, who are unable to take advantage of seasonal work visas for their laborers, said the situation needs to change—but that building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico is not the answer.

“You take the Hispanic workforce away from agriculture, the price of food will go sky-high and you’ll be looking at empty shelves,” McMahon told CNN. “Good luck at the ice cream stand.”

Click here to watch the CNN segment and read the story.

Trump Taps Lee Zeldin to Lead EPA; What Does It Signal for Agriculture?

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:58:52 GMT

President-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in his upcoming administration. This appointment signals a potential shift in environmental policy and regulatory approach. Here are the key points about this nomination:

• Zeldin is a former Republican congressman who represented New York’s 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023.
• He lacks extensive experience in environmental policy, having not served on committees with direct oversight of environmental issues during his time in Congress.
• Zeldin has a lifetime score of only 14% from the League of Conservation Voters, indicating a record of frequently voting against environmental legislation.

Trump stated that Zeldin would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions” to “unleash the power of American businesses.” The administration aims to maintain “the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet” while pursuing deregulation.

Zeldin is expected to focus on restoring “U.S. energy dominance” and revitalizing the auto industry.

He may be tasked with rolling back several Biden administration environmental regulations, particularly those targeting power plant pollution and vehicle emissions. There are plans to end the pause on constructing new natural gas export terminals and potentially withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement.

Zeldin joined Trump and Sen.-elect Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania for a roundtable on agriculture during Trump’s campaign in September. Zeldin praised Trump for addressing the “threat” of foreign entities buying U.S. agricultural land and highlighted Trump’s trade policies, including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which prioritized American farmers and strengthened supply chain resiliency.

Of note to the biofuels sector, In November 2015, Zeldin and several other members of Congress sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy expressing concerns about the proposed 2016 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The lawmakers worried that the proposed 2016 RVOs would require blending more ethanol than could be absorbed by the E10 gasoline market, effectively “breaking through” the blend wall. There were concerns that exceeding the blend wall could drive up the price of E10 gasoline for consumers. Ultimately, the EPA did finalize 2016 RVOs that were lower than originally proposed in the RFS statute, but still represented an increase over previous years. The agency attempted to balance the competing interests and technical constraints in the fuel market.

Meanwhile, discussions are underway about possibly relocating the EPA headquarters outside of Washington, D.C.

Environmental advocates criticized the nomination, viewing it as a potential regression in environmental policy. Zeldin’s record includes opposition to several climate-related bills and support for increased fossil fuel production.

Zeldin’s appointment as EPA Administrator will require Senate confirmation.

National Farmers Union outlines first 100 days priorities of Trump administration

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:02:25 GMT

The National Farmers Union, which represents family farmers and ranchers across the country, says it sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him and his administration to focus on policy priorities essential to the health and vitality of the rural U.S. and the sustainability of the nation’s agricultural system.

“Family farmers and ranchers face challenges that demand urgent attention and continued support,” NFU President Rob Larew said in a news release. “Our next president has an opportunity to lead with policies that secure fair markets, strengthen the farm safety net and ensure a sustainable future for American agriculture. We want to work with the new administration to build on recent progress and help shape a future where family farms and their communities can thrive.”

NFU highlighted the following key priorities in its letter:

Strengthening the farm safety net — With 2025 projected to be a challenging year for family farmers, NFU called for robust support to address volatility in crop prices and input costs. “The safety net established in the 2018 farm bill will not be sufficient to help farmers withstand rapidly declining crop prices, high interest rates, and natural disasters,” Larew said.
Ensuring competitive markets — NFU said it advocates for the enforcement of antitrust laws and greater transparency to combat the economic challenges posed by market concentration in the agricultural sector. “For too long, unchecked mergers in the agriculture industry and throughout our nation’s economy have come at the expense of family farmers. We need a food system that is competitive and resilient, not one that is brittle and dominated by only a few multinational corporations,” Larew said.
Trade — NFU said it urges the administration to be measured and cooperative when negotiating trade policy. Drastic measures could jeopardize the short-term and long-term financial health of family farmers. “Our members suffered significant losses due to the earlier trade dispute with China, and we lost valuable market share, particularly for soybeans, to competitors like Brazil,” Larew said.

Additional priorities outlined in NFU’s letter include support for a simplified tax code that treats family farmers fairly, right-to-repair legislation, access to high-quality healthcare and a stable agricultural workforce, among others.

NFU’s full letter can be viewed online .

RJ Andrus elected National Potato Council president

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 20:07:18 GMT

The National Potato Council appointed its 2023 executive committee during its annual Washington Summit Feb. 27 to March 3, and members elected RJ Andrus of Idaho Falls, Idaho, to serve as the council’s president for the next year.

Related news: Photos: National Potato Council’s 2023 Washington Summit

Andrus is a third-generation farmer and an owner of TBR Farms in Hamer, Idaho. He has served on the council’s executive committee since 2019 in roles that include vice president of grower outreach and industry research, according to a news release.

Most recently, Andrus served as vice president of legislative affairs for the council. A 2006 graduate of the Potato Industry Leadership Institute, Andrus is vice chairman of the Potato LEAF Board.

The National Potato Council executive committee for 2023 includes:

President — RJ Andrus, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
First vice president and vice president for environmental affairs — Bob Mattive, Monte Vista, Colo.
Vice president for legislative affairs — Dean Gibson, Paul, Idaho.
Vice president for grower outreach and industry research — TJ Hall, Hoople, N.D.
Vice president for finance — Ben Sklarczyk, Johannesburg, Mich.
Vice president for trade affairs — Ted Tschirky, Pasco, Wash.
Immediate past president — Jared Balcom, Pasco, Wash.

National Potato Council structure and mission

As a grower-led organization, NPC is managed by an executive committee and board of directors, which oversee its operations and provides guidance on its policy activities, according to the release. Board members are appointed by the executive committee from recommendations from state potato grower organizations. Committee members hold office for one calendar year.

NPC is the voice of U.S. potato growers and industry members in the nation’s capital, seeking to protect potato growers’ interests in Washington, D.C., by addressing issues that affect the potato industry, from policy issues debated in Congress to regulatory issues proposed by federal agencies, according to the release.

Related news: New report shows potatoes are a ‘driving force of America’s prosperity’

The NPC’s 2023 Washington Summit is a forum for potato industry members to discuss, define and advocate for the policy priorities impacting their businesses and protecting their ability to farm. Growers and industry stakeholders took the results from NPC’s recently released report, “ Spud Nation: Measuring the Economic Significance of the U.S. Potato Industry ,” to members of Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to advocate for issues such as keeping potatoes in federal nutrition programs, promoting free and fair trade agreements, and protecting tax policies that support the long-term health of family-owned farming operations, according to the release.

US--Election 2020-Rural Democrats

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:22:37 GMT

2020 Democrats try to make inroads in rural America 2020 Democrats try to make inroads in rural America By BILL BARROWAssociated Press The Associated Press DENMARK, S.C. DENMARK, S.C. (AP) — Deanna Miller Berry doesn’t often see presidential candidates. So when New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker recently came to Bamberg County, South Carolina, she was primed to unload about a contaminated water system.

“What is your plan to fix it?” Berry asked, her eyes narrowed.

Booker, former mayor of Newark, the largest city in the most densely populated state, assured Berry he cares about the 3,000 residents of Denmark, South Carolina. “This is a time in America where too many people are feeling left out, left behind, not included,” he said, promising “a massive infrastructure investment” targeting “forgotten” places.

The exchange highlights the effort by Democratic presidential candidates to make inroads in rural America. With the first contests unfolding next year in South Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire, small-town voters will play a critical role in choosing the next Democratic nominee. And the early attention could help the eventual nominee be more conversant on rural issues and compete for votes in places that gave President Donald Trump his most intense support in 2016.

“Organizing in every precinct is the key to winning both the caucus and the general election in Iowa,” Iowa Democratic Chairman Troy Price said.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders lamented rural decline during an Iowa swing this weekend.

“All over America, we have tragically seen more and more young people leave the small towns they grew up in, the small towns they love, because there are no decent-paying jobs in those towns — we intend to change that,” Sanders said, drawing cheers at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

At the same time, California Sen. Kamala Harris was in small-town South Carolina advocating more spending on telemedicine, broadband internet and infrastructure. Booker used his two-day rural swing last month to talk health care, housing, infrastructure and criminal justice, among other issues. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was the first candidate who ventured to rural northern New Hampshire. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar has already visited a tiny town in Wisconsin, which will be a general election battleground.

Several candidates plan to attend a March 30 rural issues forum at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa — population 10,600.

The approach matters most immediately because the delegates necessary to become the nominee are awarded in part from primary and caucus results in individual congressional districts, even the most rural and Republican-leaning. But investing there also could narrow Republicans’ general election margins, by increasing turnout among Democratic-friendly constituencies like rural black and Latino voters or peeling off white voters or both.

That could flip states like Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina — even Florida — that propelled Trump to an Electoral College majority. Besides helping win the presidency, rural gains would be necessary for Democrats to have the muscle on Capitol Hill to enact the kinds of sweeping policy changes they are advocating on many fronts.

“So much of this is about the margins,” Iowa’s Price said.

Beyond the politics, candidates say rural outreach is required of anyone who wants to govern a diverse nation.

“Folks want to be seen,” Harris said. “They want their issues to be heard. ... They could care less about half the stuff that gets covered on cable news networks.”

In Wisconsin, Klobuchar said, it’s “about knowing the issues that matter to people whether they’re Democrats, Republicans and independents — and in rural areas it’s not just about the farm bill.”

The 2018 midterms demonstrated Democrats’ tough realities beyond metro areas, but still offered some bright spots.

AP VoteCast, a national survey of more than 115,000 voters, found rural and small-town residents cast 35 percent of midterm ballots; 56 percent of those voted for Republican House candidates, compared to 41 percent for Democrats. The advantage was wider among small-town and rural whites: 30 percent of the electorate, tilting 63-35 for Republicans. Correspondingly, Democrats’ net 40-seat gain in the House was driven mostly by previously GOP-leaning suburban districts, while Democratic nominees fell short in more rural areas.

There’s no consensus on whether rural success for Democrats is about policy or personality or some combination. Some winners establish a personal brand at odds with the national party — West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin defending the coal industry, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown opposing much of U.S. trade policy, Montana Sen. Jon Tester playing up his rancher credentials.

But that won’t necessarily work for a presidential candidate looking to become the face of a party with a decidedly liberal base. None of the declared candidates deviates from Democratic orthodoxy supporting abortion rights and LGBTQ civil rights and opposing Trump’s hard line on immigration — all positions that run afoul of rural and small-town voters who collectively are more culturally conservative than urban dwellers.

Sanders struggled with that balance in 2016 when Hillary Clinton hammered him for some Senate votes against gun measures that most Democrats backed. Sanders noted that many Vermonters, as in the rest of rural America, view guns differently than most big-city residents, but Clinton successfully used the issue against Sanders, particularly with black women.

Would-be Democratic presidents are left to mix economic arguments with biography.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee grew up in Seattle, but he often mentions that he spent his early adult years in central Washington. He touts his signature issue — combating climate change — as a boon for the “heartland” economy by growing the clean-energy industry.

Klobuchar, a Twin Cities-area native, points to her work on the Senate Agriculture Committee and notes she’s won every congressional district in Minnesota during her Senate career. Sanders, who still speaks with his native Brooklyn inflection, drew roars in Iowa when mentioned using antitrust law to limit corporate power.

Harris notes that California — caricatured in Middle America as a bastion of coastal liberalism — has the nation’s biggest agricultural output. And in South Carolina, she said she heard a lot about jobs and state Republicans’ refusal to expand Medicaid insurance.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren notes that long before her Harvard law career, she was a child in Norman, Oklahoma, where her family’s working-class struggles shaped her liberal approach to consumer, labor and finance law.

After hearing Booker, Kenneth Belton, a 63-year-old resident of struggling Fairfield County, South Carolina, said a president doesn’t have to come from his walk of life. Belton just wants the person in the Oval Office to understand him — and then to help.

“It just feels like they’ve been ignoring us,” he said.

Berry, the clean water activist, agreed, crediting Booker and others for what she describes as first steps.

“I’ve heard enough to be inspired,” she said, pausing before adding, “enough to want to hear more.”

___

Associated Press writers Sara Burnett in Chicago, Alexandra Jaffe in Des Moines, Iowa, Meg Kinnard in North Charleston, South Carolina, and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow Barrow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BillBarrowAP.

Farmer sentiment rises following U.S. election

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 17:17:40 GMT

Farmer sentiment jumped following the November election of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a new Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer .

However, the survey found concern about new potential trade wars under Trump’s administration.

The farm economy index, based on a survey conducted Nov. 11-15, climbed 30 points to 145, according to the November report. Both the Current Conditions and Future Expectations indices increased in November, with the biggest improvement taking place in future expectations. The Future Expectations Index increased 37 points to 161, while the Current Conditions Index rose to 113, 18 points above October’s reading.

November’s sentiment improvement pushed the barometer to its highest level since May 2021, with expectations for the future also reaching their highest level since April 2021, according to the report.

“Some of the reasons behind the improvement in farmer sentiment include expectations for a future regulatory and tax environment for the agricultural sector that is more favorable than expected prior to the November elections,” the report said.

One-third of November’s respondents said they expect their operation to be better off financially a year from now, compared to 19% who felt that way in October.

Thirty-four percent of farmers in November said they expect good times financially for the U.S. agricultural sector in the next 12 months compared to just 15% of respondents in October, the report said.

When asked to look ahead five years, over half (52%) of November’s respondents said they expect U.S. agriculture to experience widespread good times compared to 34% who felt that way in October. The increase in optimism spread to farmer’s investment outlook, with 22% of November respondents reporting it is a good time to make large investments compared to 15% of farmers surveyed who felt that way in October.

Perhaps the biggest concern expressed by farmers as the transition to a new administration gets underway is the future of agricultural trade, the survey said.

Forty-two percent of respondents to the November survey said they think it is either “likely” or “very likely” that U.S. agriculture is at risk of a “trade war” that results in a significant decrease in U.S. agricultural exports.

30 Minutes With Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins In Her First Week On the Job

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:23:17 GMT

Since Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 , Brooke Rollins has been focused on how to build the teams and the plans that impact the trajectory of agriculture and rural America. On that day, while en route with her husband and four teenagers in their motor home to Auburn, Ala., for the Texas A&M football game, she got a call from now President Donald Trump. The purpose of his call: She was his top choice to fill his final significant cabinet position, Secretary of Agriculture.

Obviously, she had to wait for confirmation, which came last week on Feb.13 when the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed her as the 33^rd Secretary of Agriculture , but since that Saturday before Thanksgiving, she’s been on the go with an accelerated enthusiasm to understand the significant challenges facing rural communities that lost 147,000 family farms between 2017 and 2022 and why the cost of inputs are up 30% as exports are down $37 billion this year and likely to fall further in the months to come.

“This is a crisis, and this is something that I understand inherently,” Rollins said to kick off Top Producer Summit in Kansas City on Tuesday. “My promise to you is this, and my commitment will never waver, that every minute of every day for the next four years I will do everything within my power, with hopefully God’s hand on all of us and our work, to ensure we are not just entering the golden age for America, as my boss, President Trump, likes to say, but we are entering the golden age for agriculture.”

What Has Rollins Been Up to the Past Four Years?
Secretary Rollins and President Trump have worked together for almost eight years. She was in the West Wing with him for years two, three and four of his first term running his domestic policy agenda.

“This real estate guy from New York City brought that vision to life, and then in the last term, was able to really do some remarkable things,” Rollins said in regard to President Trump returning power to the people who just want a chance at the American dream. “I call it the great pause, the four years in between term one and term two. But I think the great pause allowed very intentional planning. It allowed a courageous and bold leader in President Trump to become a fearless leader and to do everything he can to bring America back to greatness.”

In the “dark days of January 2021,” as she described, Secretary Rollins helped launch the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump officials to promote conservative policies. The idea was that those policies that made America great in Trump’s first term would continue indefinitely, not just for a second term, but for four years, eight years or 36 years, Rollins described.

First Week On the Job
Since being confirmed last week, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington, D.C., USDA office for a few hours, but most of her time has been spent in Kentucky at National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville and Gallrein Farms and in Kansas visiting Finney’s County Feeder, High Plains Ponderosa Dairy and the National Beef Packing Plant .

Describing herself as “a reader and a studier,” Rollins seems adamant to hear firsthand from farmers and ranchers. She referenced her visits to the dairy farm and National Beef facility as inspiring, in a good way but also in a way that helps her understand the real challenges at hand.

Speaking to the crowd at Top Producer Summit, she shared her appreciation for the “entrepreneurial American game changers” who are doing their part to feed the world.

“It is so inspiring and a reminder of the very beginning of our country.” Rollins said. “Our revolution was fought by farmers, our Founding Fathers, like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. The backbone of the great American experiment is this community.”

Thank you @topproducermag for hosting @RogerMarshallMD and me in Kansas City, Missouri, with 1,000 of the Top Producers from across the US to talk about issues like expanding trade access and cutting regulatory red tape for farmers.

Biden’s ZERO trade deals and inflationary… pic.twitter.com/ejMxKxkRMG
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) February 19, 2025

Farmer Q&A
Watch and listen to what Secretary Rollins, as well as Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, had to say on stage at Top Producer Summit about these 7 topics:

Trade and tariffs — “ Let’s go barnstorm the world , and let’s go find some more trade partners and access [to market opportunities],” Rollins said.
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts and modernizing USDA — “DOGE is a very valid and important effort across all government. The stories of waste and abuse were really just, not USDA specific but across government, beginning,” Rollins said.
Federal programs, such as CSP and EQIP — “Our commitment is that if there have been commitments made, those will be honored. Getting our arms around all of that right now is really, really, important. Again, going back to the President’s heart and commitment to our farmers, I feel confident we will be able to solve any issues that are in front of our ag community, that are potentially being compromised by the DOGE effort, while at the same time recognizing how very, very important it is,” Rollins said.
Future of USDA — “There’s no question USDA needs some modernization. I’m just beginning to lean into that as well,” Rollins said. USDA has 106,000 employees and 29 departments. “The Secretary is taking over a department where only 6% of the [D.C.] people work in the office,” Marshall added.
Renewable fuels — Prior to President Trump’s first term, he was “the first major candidate to support biofuels, and I think that carried him through Iowa in many ways. … We’ve got E15 year-round. I think that gives us some certainty as well. … The President is supporting that. I think we’re trying to figure out how to save 45Z, but we can’t let China benefit from it. Right now, China is benefiting more from [45Z] than my farmers and ranchers are, so we’ve got to fix that,” Marshall says.
Immigration policies and availability of long-term labor — “I have a full-bodied understanding of the challenges within the labor market, and I believe the President does too. … I believe that we will very soon be talking about it again. Clearly, the H-2A program needs significant reform, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer, she’s going through the [confirmation] process right now. … Hopefully she’ll get her vote very soon. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Rollins said.
Trump’s cabinet members — “Our cabinet is comprised of people that have been working together and have been friends and colleagues for years, with a few exceptions. Bobby Kennedy is a new friend, but Lee Zeldin and I worked together in America First Works and America First Policy Institute for the last almost four years, Linda McMahon in education and John Brooks — these are our people,” Rollins said.

Who Will Be the Next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture?

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:38:42 GMT

Donald Trump won all battleground states in a virtual red wall. Trump is the first candidate in over a century to reclaim the White House after losing it. Trump, who won election in 2016 as the 45th president, now will be the 47th and just the second candidate in U.S. history to win nonconsecutive White House terms.

Now that the results are in, it begs the question: Who will be the new USDA Secretary? That parlor game has returned with a host of possibilities which include:

Abel Maldonado, said to be at or near the top of possibilities, was former California Lt. Gov. from April 27, 2010, to Jan. 10, 2011. He is the oldest son of immigrant field workers and grew up working alongside his father picking strawberries to help support the family. He ran unsuccessfully for California’s 24th congressional district in 2012 and briefly ran for governor in the 2014 election. He was considered for USDA Secretary by Donald Trump in 2017, but was not ultimately nominated. He is currently the owner of Runway Vineyards in Santa Maria, California.
Zippy Duval, American Farm Bureau President, serving in that role since January 2016. He is a third-generation farmer from Georgia with deep roots in agriculture. He operates a dairy farm on land in Georgia, currently raising beef cattle and broiler chickens. He produces over 750,000 broilers per year with his wife, Jennifer. Prior to his role as AFBF President, Duvall served as the President of the Georgia Farm Bureau for nine years.
Kip Tom, Indiana farmer who transformed his family’s farm, Tom Farms, into one of the largest farming operations in Indiana. From April 2019 to January 2021, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, based in Rome, Italy.
Former House Ag Chairman Mike Conaway, now a private consultant. He is the only person out there, not in office, who’s negotiated a farm bill; led an investigation resulting in debunking the Russia hoax; auditor who would turn USDA upside down investigating where all the debt relief and climate money has gone; knows rural America; aligned with Trump on needed SNAP reforms.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, serving in this role since January 2015. Miller was born in 1955 in De Leon, Texas and has deep roots in the state’s agriculture industry. He is a cattle rancher, farmer, and owner of a commercial nursery business. He served six terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. He was first elected as Texas Agriculture Commissioner in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He granted “amnesty to cupcakes” as his first official action, drawing attention to the repeal of a ban on junk food in schools. Recently issued an executive order allowing Texas farmers to use water from the Rio Grande for irrigation, addressing water shortage concerns. Miller has faced criticism. He awarded significant bonuses to staffers and created high-paying positions for political allies early in his tenure. Miller has recently been sounding the alarm about water shortages in Texas, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley.
Rep Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). He is a rebel House conservative that most consider a long shot choice.
Ray Starling: A prominent figure in American agriculture policy and law with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Currently serves as the general counsel of the N.C. Chamber and president of the N.C. Chamber Legal Institute. In these roles, he sets litigation strategy and leads public policy development, focusing on issues affecting businesses in North Carolina. Previously, Starling held several high-profile positions in the federal government: Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue; Principal agriculture advisor to the President of the United States at the White House; Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance on the White House National Economic Council. He also worked as Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel for U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. He grew up on a Century Family Farm in southeastern North Carolina.
Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Before that he was Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (2017-2021); Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (2014-2017): He served in this capacity before his appointment to the federal government. McKinney worked for 19 years with Dow AgroSciences and 14 years with Elanco, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, where he was Director of Global Corporate Affairs.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who ran briefly for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump before campaigning for him. His term expires in December. Burgum is also being considered for other Cabinet positions. Of note: Every agriculture secretary since Mike Johanns in 2005 was a former governor.

— Potential candidates for U.S. Trade Representative in a second Trump administration include:

Robert Lighthizer is seen as a top contender to reprise his role as U.S. Trade Representative. However, reports signal Lighthizer wants to be either Commerce Secretary or Treasury Secretary. As Trump’s USTR during his first term, Lighthizer was a key figure in implementing Trump’s trade policies, including leading negotiations for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to replace NAFTA; Overseeing trade negotiations and disputes with China; Advocating for and implementing tariffs on various imports. Lighthizer remains close with Trump and is widely viewed as a leading candidate for USTR or another top economic post, especially given Trump’s promises to pursue even more aggressive trade policies in a second term.
Bill Hagerty. The Tennessee senator and former ambassador to Japan under Trump is considered a contender for multiple Cabinet posts, including USTR.
Jamieson Greer. Served as chief of staff to Lighthizer at USTR during Trump’s first term and is reportedly a top choice to lead the office.
Robert O’Brien. Trump’s former national security advisor is seen as a candidate for Secretary of State or other foreign policy roles, which could potentially include USTR.

Of note: Trump has expressed a desire to pursue even more aggressive trade policies, including broader tariffs, in a potential second term. This suggests he may favor someone like Lighthizer who has a track record of implementing such policies. However, the final selection will likely depend on various factors as Trump assembles his full economic and foreign policy teams.

— Who will be Donald Trump’s chief of staff? This is one of the most important personnel decisions Trump faces. There are several prominent contenders being considered for the position:

Brooke Rollins: A trusted Trump associate and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, Rollins is seen as a top contender for the Chief of Staff role. She previously served as an advisor on domestic policy during Trump’s first term and is perceived as a more moderate Trump ally.
Susie Wiles: Having led Trump’s successful 2024 campaign, Wiles is also being considered for the Chief of Staff position. Her pivotal role in Trump’s electoral success, particularly after joining his campaign following her work on Ron DeSantis’ campaign in Florida, has put her in a strong position for this role.
Kevin McCarthy: The former House Speaker, who had an unceremonious exit from Washington in October 2023, is widely seen as a top contender for the Chief of Staff position. McCarthy’s intimate knowledge of how Washington works is considered a significant asset for this role. Some people, however, say he likes the money he is making currently.
Robert Lighthizer: While primarily known for his role as a trade representative, Lighthizer is also mentioned as a potential candidate for Chief of Staff. However, he is also being considered for other positions such as Treasury Secretary or Commerce Secretary.

Bottom line: The final selection will likely depend on various factors, including their relationship with Trump, their ability to navigate Washington politics, and their alignment with Trump’s vision for his second term.

Your Next Read: Washington Insiders Weigh in on What the Election Means for Agriculture