Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Visits Iowa, Discusses USAID Cuts Impact

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made her first official visit to Iowa, engaging with farmers and speaking at the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner. During her tour, she visited an ethanol facility, a hog farm, and a soybean seed producer, emphasizing the Trump administration's commitment to supporting agriculture and biofuels. Rollins also addressed potential retaliatory tariffs and the USDA's preparedness to offer financial assistance to farmers affected by trade wars, expressing hope for positive tariff renegotiations. GOP officials, including Rep. Randy Feenstra, praised her visit while some Democratic leaders criticized it as merely a photo opportunity. The visit highlights the ongoing challenges faced by farmers due to fluctuating prices and trade policies. Rollins affirmed that the USDA would closely review Iowa's waiver requests for summer feeding programs.