President Trump’s pick to head USDA, Brooke Rollins, was challenged at her Senate confirmation hearing last week on the impact President Trump’s threatened tariffs could have on the Ag community.  Michigan Democrat Elissa Slotkin told nominee Brooke Rollins that she’s likely to be confirmed as USDA Secretary and would swear an oath to the Constitution, not President Trump, and therefore would need to protect farmers in the event of another trade war.

 

“So can you say, I know you’ve said it, that you will throw your body in front of the bus to make sure that any political talking point on tariffs that may sound good, is truly tested against how it will impact our farmers like it was not last time around,” Slotkin said during Thursday's hearing.

 

When Trump and former Secretary Sonny Perdue dipped into Commodity Credit Corporation [CCC] funds to rescue producers with some $24 billion in Market Facilitation Payments.  Rollins admitted that might happen again, but perhaps with more USDA input. 

 

"My commitment to you is that there will be no sleeping, that we will work around the clock to make sure that our Ag communities across this country are represented in those discussions and at the table.”

 

Rollins was President Trump’s Domestic Policy Adviser in his last administration and suggested she’ll have his ear on tariffs and in reducing a now chronic Ag trade deficit.

 

“President Trump is the consummate deal maker," Rollins said.  "His heart for rural America and our farmers and ranchers, I think, will hopefully lead the way. I certainly will be right next to him, whispering in his ear as we move forward on this. And I think and hope and pray that we can begin to solve this immediately.”

 

And hopefully, Rollins said, turn the last four years’ $45 Billion Ag trade deficit back into a trade surplus.

 

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

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