Rollins Bolsters USDA Funding, Appointments, and Policies to Support Farmers and Rural America
In recent days, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has taken a series of high-profile actions reflecting both domestic priorities and international engagement. This week, Secretary Rollins announced a substantial increase of $14.5 million in federal funding to reimburse states for meat and poultry inspection programs. This move addresses a recent decline in support and ensures that state inspection programs, essential for keeping the food supply safe and reliable, can continue operating at full capacity. Rollins emphasized the importance of strong federal-state partnerships and explained that the funding increase aligns with President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal, underscoring a renewed federal commitment to food safety.In tandem with these funding initiatives, Rollins unveiled a new slate of presidential appointments across key USDA divisions, including the Food and Nutrition Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development. Among notable appointees is Patrick Penn, a former Kansas State Representative and Army Signal Officer, who will become Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. The appointments are expected to reinforce the administration’s agenda of supporting farmers, ranchers, and rural America through policy built on direct engagement and practical experience.Policy for small family farms remains a clear focal point for Rollins. This month, after extensive travel and consultation with agricultural communities, she introduced the Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda. The comprehensive set of proposals aims to address long-standing challenges for small family farms, which make up the majority of U.S. agricultural operations. Key measures include streamlining loan and support applications, improving access to credit and farmland, ensuring farmland remains devoted to farming, and reforming definitions and resources to fit the realities faced by today’s small farmers. Labor reform and enhanced business planning resources are also core elements, designed to improve the long-term viability of family farms and encourage generational continuity.Internationally, Secretary Rollins has remained active in trade and agricultural diplomacy. Recent efforts include working with Costa Rica to secure expanded market access for American dairy producers and pushing forward on the registration of U.S. dairy facilities under streamlined Costa Rican regulations. In addition, Rollins has engaged with Mexican counterparts to combat agricultural pests such as the New World Screwworm, further reflecting the USDA’s ongoing commitment to both market access and agricultural biosecurity.Rollins has also indicated that changes in USDA’s organizational structure could be forthcoming. Plans include evaluating the consolidation of federal programs—particularly where multiple agencies have overlapping functions—in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. She has pointed to possible changes in federal firefighting services and rural development initiatives as examples of areas under consideration, all while stressing that essential services like food assistance and wildfire response will remain priorities.Collectively, these actions signal a dynamic and hands-on approach by Secretary Rollins, focused on practical support for rural America, strategic federal investments, and enhanced coordination across federal and state efforts. The initiatives underscore the administration’s pledge to place farmers and rural communities at the forefront of policy decisions, ensuring continued prosperity and food security nationwide.
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