U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visits Iowa, addresses USAID cuts impact to farmers
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made her first official visit to Iowa Monday, visiting several farms and facilities alongside Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Rollins toured Elite Octane in Atlantic, Manning Family Farm in Waukee, and Beck’s Hybrids in Colfax. She ended her day in Ankeny at the FFA Enrichment Center for the 13th annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner and a roundtable discussion.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Rep. Zach Nunn and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks accompanied Rollins and Reynolds at the Waukee stop, where the group toured a grain handling facility.
"This is the heartland," Rollins said. "I'm so honored to be in Iowa."
vlog asked Rollins how cuts to USAID could potentially affect Iowa farmers. She said getting the trade deficit to zero is one of her top priorities.
"USAID is certainly one of the top issues," she said. "It is going to be an all-of-government approach, maybe even the vice president or the president, as we work to aggressively open up these markets around the world."
Rollins announced trips to six countries in six months. She said agriculture should be a bipartisan issue.
"Growing a very strong field of corn and making sure you can sell that corn, that's not Republican or Democrat or left or right," she said. "That's just America."
Rollins was also asked if she would approve the state's waiver request to implement its own summer feeding program instead of the USDA's Summer EBT program. The state's initial waiver request was denied in August, but Reynolds resubmitted the state's proposal once President Donald Trump took office.
"I am so excited," Rollins said. "I don't know if I'm supposed to get ahead of myself, but stay tuned."
vlog reached out to the Iowa Democratic Party about the visit, too. Chair Rita Hart said in a statement:
"Secretary Rollins' appearance in Iowa was certainly a nice photo op for Iowa's Republican politicians, but did nothing to address Iowa 's economic concerns. Where were the answers to questions about tariffs or concerns from the renewable fuels producers about the Renewable Fuel Standard? Should we expect to slip to 49th or 50th place from our devastating 48th present spot in the country for economic growth? These folks should be more serious, but instead are simply smiling for the cameras and doing nothing for Iowans."
Rollins was asked about tariffs during a press conference with reporters in Waukee. She said farmers may feel some impacts in the first couple of months, but that long term, they will be better off.
"We have to make some significant changes, and that is what he [President Donald Trump] is doing," Rollins said. "He believes very sincerely that for the long term, that this is the right move for the country, that ultimately the economy will thrive, and all Americans will be better off."
Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann thanked Rollins for visiting the Hawkeye State in a statement:
"I want to thank Secretary Rollins for taking the time to visit our great state. Iowa farmers and biofuel producers are key to delivering President Trump's agenda to lower prices at the pump, increase global energy dominance, and support agricultural production in the United States. I am pleased President Trump and his administration continue to focus on Iowa and the needs of Midwest farmers."