Rollins Talks About Labor, Needs Of Farmers

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said farm labor costs have reached, in some cases more than 50% of expenses but still defends the president’s mass deportation policy.  Rollins makes no excuse for backing the president on reversing mass migration to the U.S.

“The entire industry is talking about President Trump’s promise, which I fully support, of securing the border and mass deportation,” she said.

But Rollins is caught between that support and her role advocating for the nation’s farmers.

“I realize a lot of our Ag community is concerned about labor and what President Trump’s vision and execution of that vision very quickly will mean. My message is that listen, he understands the challenges to our community. No one has the backs of our farmers and ranchers more than he does. We will take this one day at a time.”

She promised that farmers’ voices will be heard in the administration, including on broadening the H-2A Program.

“I know that the H-2A is very helpful and important to many of our producers, but to many like the dairy industry, you can’t milk a cow six months a year. I’ve already been speaking with Lori Chavez-Deremer, who will be our new labor secretary if promoted very soon, and working with Congress on that, too.”

USDA forecasts a host of inputs will continue to increase this year, including seeds, taxes, and rent, and labor is expected to jump by 3.6%.  On the positive side of the ledger, feed, fertilizer, pesticides, fuel, and interest costs are all expected to decline.

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