Rollins testifies at House oversight hearing of the USDA amid screwworm outbreak

[0:00] to face high input costs, rising labor expenses, elevated interest rates, and market uncertainty. [0:06] It is necessary that we work together to create an environment where agriculture can thrive and [0:13] where the next generation sees farming, ranching, and forestry as viable and a rewarding career. [0:20] One way we have delivered our commitment to producers is through the working family's tax [0:24] cuts. The president signed in-law historic investments to farm country one year ago, [0:29] providing long overdue updates to agriculture policies that better reflect today's realities [0:36] producers in Arkansas and across the nation experience. These improvements respond directly [0:42] to concerns farmers have raised for years and provides meaningful support and predictability [0:48] to help them continue operating for years to come. We appreciate USDA's urgency in implementing [0:55] these policies so farmers can realize their benefits this fall. [0:59] I look forward to hearing further updates on USDA's implementation of these programs. [1:05] This landmark law also includes investments in USDA's premier animal health programs to help [1:12] mitigate threats such as the New World screw worm. We know how critical these investments are, [1:18] particularly as six domestic cases have been confirmed in just the last week. [1:24] Madam Secretary, we appreciate the aggressive approach you and your team have taken [1:28] to slow down the advancement of this pest toward our border and to implement measures that protect [1:34] America's livestock industry. We have successfully eradicated New World screw worm before and I'm [1:42] confident we can do so again. We are looking forward to you and your team at USDA to continue leading [1:48] this effort in safeguarding the health and security of America's herd. We must continue supporting [1:54] agriculture sectors vital to our rural communities. Our cotton producers have faced significant economic [2:01] headwinds in recent years. Cotton remains a cornerstone crop for Arkansas and states across the cotton belt, [2:09] supporting farm families, rural communities, and manufacturers. This is why I strongly support the [2:15] Buying American Cotton Act. I was pleased to see USDA's recent announcement promoting the domestic cotton [2:23] industry. We appreciate that very much. At a time when our producers are competing in a challenging global [2:30] marketplace, we should be doing everything we can to support American-grown products and the hardworking [2:37] men and women who produce them. Similarly, I know many of our committee members on both sides of the aisle [2:43] support year-round E15. I do too. And we are working hard to get that done. We also need to protect [2:52] the energy security for local and regional communities and protect those jobs in rural America. [2:58] I support the proposal put forward by Senators Fisher and Capito and the hope the Senate moves quickly [3:04] on that bill. Just as importantly, our producers have access to the resources they need to succeed. [3:11] Fertilizer remains one of the most significant input costs facing farmers and they are seeing dramatic [3:17] rises in cost and are concerned about future availability. The results of the American Farm Bureau [3:23] Federation survey this year underscores the concerns I continue to hear from producers in Arkansas and [3:30] across the country. Among Arkansas farmers who responded, only 12% reported pre-ordering fertilizer, [3:38] highlighting the uncertainty and financial pressures producers are experiencing. I appreciate USDA's [3:45] attention to this issue as well as the opportunity to join you to discuss long-term strategies to lower the [3:51] cost of fertilizer. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance policies to provide relief in [3:58] the future. We have a tremendous opportunity before us to update farm policies in Farm Bill 2.0. I look [4:05] forward to releasing text very soon that incorporates many bipartisan measures and just as importantly, [4:12] the priorities of farmers, ranchers and foresters so they have updated policies to meet their needs. I am [4:19] hopeful we can deliver a farm bill that farmers, ranchers, foresters and rural communities deserve. Lastly, [4:26] I remain committed to advancing the farm assistance package Senator Hove and I proposed in January. There [4:33] are many additional challenges that have risen since then that demonstrate the urgency to provide our [4:38] producers, including our specialty crop producers, with more support. Again, thank you very much for being here and I look forward to your testimony. I now turn to our ranking member, [4:49] I think she's more than that, but I turn to Senator Klobuchar for her words of wisdom. [4:57] Senator Klobuchar Well, thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and thank you for being here, [5:03] Secretary Rollins and thank you, Mr. Chair, for leading with the hope that we can move forward on a bipartisan [5:09] farm bill. I appreciate you wanting to ramp up a number of the bipartisan proposals that we have [5:17] to include. We had a very good meeting with you, with our members. I think people made it clear [5:24] they're concerned about the inequity of the snap shifts to the states with the big error rate states [5:33] getting off for two years and then the entire Midwest not. And we're hoping once we get the numbers, [5:38] especially at the end of June that from the USDA, the final numbers, we might be able to make some [5:45] changes there which unite our members as well as many other issues. I also appreciate you raising the [5:50] E15 issue, Mr. Chairman, and your support for it, Secretary. The House, as we know, has passed this. I'm also [5:58] supportive of the bill that you mentioned and have been one of the leads on this. And, you know, this is [6:03] something that could be voted on separately because of the committee jurisdiction that we could even do [6:09] sooner rather than later. And I think it would really be a smart move to get this done very near. [6:15] And I hope you bring that not only back to the USDA but to the administration to push so that we can [6:22] get a vote on that very soon. I do want to thank you for the USDA's expedited disaster assistant [6:29] for Farmers Secretary Rollins for the losses in 2023 and 2024 and the payments in April, [6:37] which Senator Slotkin and I had urged. Getting this second payment put over $700 million in Minnesota [6:45] farmers' pockets this spring. I also want to address the recently confirmed cases of New World [6:51] Screwworm here within the U.S., in Texas, New Mexico, and I recognize the administration's ongoing [6:58] response, working with animal health officials, as well as livestock stakeholders. And clearly, [7:05] we need a long-term response. I continue to be concerned about some of the reorganization's cuts [7:12] to USDA, how that could affect our long-term response. Senator Lujan and I will be doing a [7:18] letter on that immediately after this hearing has concluded. And I'm sure he will ask some questions, [7:26] as will I. Secretary Rollins, since your last appearance before the committee, it has been a [7:32] turbulent time for farmers, ranchers, and really all of rural America. Unfortunately, I believe that [7:39] much of this turbulence would have been, could have been, would have been, could have been entirely [7:45] preventable. I've been clear that the administrations across the board tariffs have been terrible for [7:51] farmers. The IEPA tariffs added nearly $1 billion in cost to critical inputs like fertilizers, seed, [7:59] machinery, and chemicals from February through October of last year. These tariffs, rightfully struck down [8:06] by the Supreme Court, were so unnecessary given that the legality, the constitutionality of them, were in [8:15] question from the very beginning, and thus they added so much uncertainty and costs. Now, unfortunately, [8:24] and unnecessarily, the president has chosen to bulldoze ahead with more tariffs at great cost to the [8:30] economy and more uncertainty. In addition to the chaos from the tariffs, the unilateral decision to start [8:37] a conflict in the Middle East is causing real and direct harm to farmers and consumers in Minnesota. [8:44] One year ago, the average price for a gallon of diesel in my state was 340. Today, the average is 513. [8:53] That is a 51 percent increase in a single year. And just this morning, we got the consumer price index [9:01] numbers for the country up 4.2 percent, and that is up from the exact inverse 2.4 percent that we were [9:11] seeing before the conflict began. I am also concerned of the edge that this war has given Russia and China [9:21] and other countries that are not friends of the U.S. in the global battle for competitiveness [9:29] because of the fact that we are so reliant. I met with producers on the Tate Farmer Family Farm in [9:36] Cannon Falls, Minnesota, where I heard from producers that the skyrocketing cost of fertilizer is [9:42] threatening their operations. As we all know, nearly half of the global urea and 30 percent of global ammonia [9:50] exports used in nitrogen fertilizer supply chains move through the Straits of Hormuz. Earlier this spring, [9:57] the Farm Bureau highlighted the financial strain farmers are experiencing, estimating that 70 percent [10:04] of farmers couldn't afford all the fertilizer they needed. Of the farmers they surveyed, 94 percent said [10:10] their financial situation has worsened or flatlined in the past year. This morning, a number of us met with [10:19] key economists, expert economists, about the long term here. And what they told us, this was not really a [10:27] political based meeting, was just that even if the Straits of Hormuz were opened immediately, the long term [10:34] effect of going through our reserves, as we have done globally, is going to keep these prices high. As I've [10:42] said before, this is a perfect storm of ugly, to quote one of my soybean farmers. From the fuel and the [10:49] fertilizer costs to the tariffs, it has made it really hard for our growers, especially our small growers, [10:56] who do not have the reserves to make long term business decisions with any confidence. Secretary [11:03] Rollins, many of us believe that you can be a voice of reason when it comes to these issues with the [11:09] administration. We know that you have expressed views in the past about the effect this is having on [11:18] the farm economy. But right now, I fear and many of us fear and many of farmers fear that these voices of [11:26] reason are falling on deaf ears. Because on top of the decisions to go into this unilateral war, [11:35] and just to continue these tariffs, we have just seen such pandemonium when it comes to the response, [11:43] and so many bad effects on rural America from the decision not to extend the Affordable Care Act tax [11:50] credits, which are percentage-wise more relied on in rural America, to many of the decisions that have [11:58] been made to reduce staffing, whether it's Social Security or USDA, that people in rural America rely on. [12:07] My concerns with the USDA right now is this pushing forward of a RE-ORG plan right in the middle of all of [12:16] this mess. The department has already lost around 20 percent of its employees, meaning fewer FSA staff, [12:24] to process farm loan and disaster aid applications just at a time when farmers are facing more problems [12:30] than they were the year before, the year before, the year before. Fewer NRCS conservationists to help [12:37] farmers adopt popular conservation practices, and this really does mean something in the Midwest where [12:43] many of them rely on these programs, and fewer researchers developing solutions for the challenges [12:50] our farmers face today, including, as discussed earlier, the New World Screwworm. These staff losses [12:58] come before a series of announcements from the department moving multiple agencies across the country, [13:05] which we know results in even more disruption to staff. Farmers in Minnesota won't be better served by [13:12] fewer experienced employees being relocated to Indianapolis, Kansas City, or, yes, Salt Lake City, [13:21] not exactly an ag-focused state. Instead, I encourage the USDA to prioritize staffing, local county offices, [13:32] and ARS labs to help farmers access services and tackle issues they are facing right now. The department's [13:41] reorganization proposal will significantly affect the ability to provide services to USDA stakeholders [13:49] and the lives of the employees. We are asking for transparency and an open dialogue with the [13:56] shared goal of ensuring the USDA is efficient and effective in its mission. Our concern is doing this [14:03] right now in the middle of what is clearly some of the biggest headwinds that we've seen coming at agriculture [14:11] and at rural America is a huge mistake because it will mean, of course, less staff to deal with it, [14:18] less experienced staff to deal with it, and a necessary disruption to serving our farmers. [14:26] So I look forward to hearing from you today, and I appreciate the members that are here and [14:33] their input as well. Thank you. Thank you. It's my pleasure to introduce [14:40] Brooke L. Rollins, the 33rd Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. Secretary Rollins [14:47] is originally from Glen Rose, Texas. Most recently, Secretary Rollins served as the founder, [14:53] president and chief executive officer of the America First Policy Institute, AFPI, during President [15:00] Trump's first administration. She was the director of the Domestic Policy Council and assistant to the [15:06] president for strategic initiatives in the White House. She also served as director of the Office of [15:13] American Innovation. In these roles, she developed and managed the transformational domestic policy [15:19] agenda of the Trump administration, leading to historic achievements for the American people. [15:25] Rollins graduated with honors from Texas A&M University with a degree in agriculture development [15:31] and was the first female to be elected student body president. After earning her Juris Doctor with [15:38] honors at the University of Texas School of Law, she served as Governor Rick Perry's policy director before [15:44] running the Texas Public Policy Foundation for 15 years. At the foundation, Rollins elevated a small [15:53] policy organization to a national force and redefined the possibilities for a state-based think tank, [16:01] setting the model and aspiration for AFPI. Rollins and her husband, Mark, call Fort Worth, Texas home and [16:09] spend the majority of their free time taxing their four very active children to baseball games and cattle shows [16:16] and piano lessons and Aggie football games. We appreciate you being here. I think the only [16:24] thing they left out were your former barrel racing days, which we can be proud of. So again, thank you [16:30] for being here and we look forward to your opening statement. Thank you so much, Chairman Bozeman, [16:35] Ranking Member Klobuchar and distinguished members of this committee. In less than one month, we will [16:41] celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and its principal [16:48] author Thomas Jefferson once noted that agriculture is truly our wisest pursuit. If we are to secure land [16:55] and liberty for future generations, we must fight for American agriculture together with every fiber of [17:02] our being. And we are. Our efforts over the past 17 months reflect the Trump administration's commitment [17:08] to ensuring that America's food supply remains the best in the world. It's safe, it's reliable, [17:14] it's healthy, and it's affordable. Last Friday's jobs report beat every economist forecast when 172,000 [17:21] jobs were added in May, cementing the Trump economy's record of delivering for American workers month [17:27] after month. In fact, more people are working today than ever before in American history. Further, [17:33] 30-year fixed mortgage rates are down, and our deregulatory efforts are projected to save Americans [17:38] a collective $212 billion, or roughly $2,500 per a family of four. For our farmers, that's a big number. [17:47] By contrast, we know in the previous administration, average home prices rose 25 percent, [17:53] 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rates were up 194 percent, national average gas prices peaked 124 percent up, [18:00] and food prices up 23 percent. And notably for this committee, farm income saw the largest dollar [18:07] value loss in history of our country as it fell over $90 billion from 2023 to 2024. Further, commodity [18:17] prices plummeted from 30-year highs in the last administration, and of course we saw zero new trade [18:24] deals while inheriting a $50 billion agricultural trade deficit after leaving with an $8 billion [18:32] agricultural trade surplus just four years earlier. While we cannot reverse this trajectory for ag [18:38] overnight, we can and we will continue building upon the progress that has already been made. [18:44] Last year, President Trump and congressional Republicans delivered the Working Families Tax [18:48] Cut Act, a historic piece of legislation and a victory for U.S. agriculture, which increased reference [18:55] prices for the first time in more than a decade and saved two million family farms from the death tax, [19:02] among so many other wins. Moreover, President Trump has already secured 19 new trade deals in just over [19:08] one year, helping us slash that $50 billion agricultural trade deficit by almost 50 percent from just one [19:18] year ago. So think about what that means for our producers. As we expand opportunity over the long [19:23] term, we are also providing farmers with our short-term support today through the Farmer Bridge Assistance [19:28] Program, the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, and others. USDA has delivered tens of [19:34] billions of dollars in targeted direct relief to help our farmers manage natural disasters and temporary [19:41] market disruptions. We are also helping our farmers manage the input prices, the cost of which we know [19:47] exploded under the last administration. Under Biden, fertilizer prices surged more than 50 percent, [19:54] on average, reaching 99 percent at their highest peak. And I know we're going to talk a lot about [19:58] fertilizer today, but even after the Iranian conflict and even after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, [20:04] fertilizer today is still less than what it was in the peak of the Biden years. President Trump has [20:10] reactivated and activated our entire cabinet on this particular issue, and we can talk more about that [20:16] today. Truly affordable domestic inputs are a matter of national security. Our ability to feed [20:22] ourselves is fundamental to our freedom in this country. That's why we launched for the first time [20:28] ever our Farm Security Action Plan last year, integrating agriculture into America's national security [20:35] strategy for the first time ever. We are determined to protect the security and integrity of everything we are [20:41] responsible for at the USDA, including the federal nutrition programs that constitute our largest [20:47] expenditure. When it comes to rooting out SNAP fraud, in just over one year we have already made 900 arrests, [20:54] this is through USDA, pursued over 120 convictions, and have 132 million in restitution, and we're literally [21:03] just getting started. We're also working to protect our producers from diseases and pests that threaten their [21:07] livelihoods. Very quickly before I get into screwworm, let's talk about the avian influenza, the HPAI with [21:14] our chickens. Since last year when we launched that plan, we have seen a 41 percent decrease in HPAI and a [21:24] 51 percent decrease in total birds affected. We still have a ways to go, but we're making progress. [21:30] And this year is no different, and I'm going to talk, sir, about the New World Screwworm just at the outset, [21:35] and then I'm sure we'll dive into it more. We continue to prioritize defeating the New World Screwworm. [21:42] Over the past week and a half, USDA has confirmed six cases of the New World Screwworm within the U.S., [21:48] all but one in the south of Texas. I was just in Texas two days ago to inspect a USDA research facility [21:57] that we just opened two weeks ago, developing new technologies to combat this pest, and we're back [22:03] tomorrow on site in south Texas in LaPrior to visit that ranch and talk more about what we're doing. [22:10] The Biden administration's open border policies combined with the Mexican cartel's refusal to [22:16] crack down on that through south and central America allowed the screwworm to move north for the first [22:21] time in 50 years, beginning in 2022 when the Darien Gap was breached into 2023 when the screwworm began [22:29] moving at rapid pace up through Central America and hitting Mexico in 2024 under the last administration. [22:38] We know this development is a serious threat, but it did not catch us off guard. We've established the [22:44] 20-kilometer movement zone, expedited targeted release of sterile flies in the affected area. [22:50] We've increased the trapping for flies along the border and ramping up surveillance. But more [22:56] importantly, I think for this committee is very quickly, Senator Bozeman, I want to talk about over [23:00] the last year what we deployed. Over $1 billion, $1.3 billion since we walked into the door last January [23:09] 2025 has been invested and deployed to battle just the new world screwworm. We have been forward-leaning. [23:16] EPA just approved some new fly technologies we've announced just the last few days, which will [23:22] significantly increase our ability to battle this through sterile flies. We also broke ground on our [23:28] more air-based sterile fly facility in Texas about six months ago. That's a $750 million project, [23:36] and that also opening up a dispersal facility earlier this year for the first time, and outfitting a [23:42] facility in Metapa, Mexico that will open this month that will increase our sterile fly production by [23:48] 100 million flies. That all happened because of what we implemented over a year ago in preparation for [23:55] this moment. And since January 2025, and this is a really, really important point for those who are [24:01] saying that we have not, we were caught unprepared. When we walked in the door in January 2025, the last [24:07] USDA had an equivalent of 10 full-time employees working on the new world screwworm, so about 17 months [24:14] ago. A week ago, before it was even confirmed, we had over 110 full-time staff that we had staffed up over [24:23] the last 15 months in preparation, almost a 1000% increase in over a year in preparation. In short, [24:31] we're using every single tool at our disposal, working very closely with our governor, Governor [24:35] Greg Abbott, and all of the teams on the ground in Texas, in New Mexico, and across this country. [24:40] Thank you again for the opportunity to be here, Senator and Ranking Member Klobuchar. As we celebrate our [24:45] 250 years of freedom, I know we will continue to fight together for the men and women who feed and [24:51] clothe and fuel this great country and the world. I look forward to your questions. Thank you. [24:57] No, thank you very much for being here again. And we're going to start our round of questioning. We're [25:03] going to have seven minutes to ask our questions, which is longer than normal. But I would ask you to [25:10] to be sure and adhere to the time, because we've got a lot of people that are going to want to ask [25:14] questions. And there is an incredible amount of stuff going on as we speak right now throughout [25:20] Congress. So we do appreciate the hard work that that you've done and the preparation, slowing things [25:27] down so that we would have, you know, additional time to get ready for this concerning the screw worm. [25:34] Is there I guess the only question I would have, is there any more authorities that we need to give [25:39] you or any more resources that would be helpful, you know, as we fight this battle? [25:47] I appreciate that question. And I know we're I'm on multiple calls every day since we have moved now [25:56] into the next phase of the battle. You all know we closed the ports a year ago, which was a very [26:01] difficult decision, especially for our feeders in Texas. But the purpose was the every model showed [26:07] screw worm hitting our side of the border last summer. So that would have been just about eight or 12 weeks [26:14] after we came into office. And I looked at all the facts and said, we've got to slow this down [26:20] and do whatever we can to be better prepared when it gets here. And that's what we were able to do. [26:25] So Senator Bozeman right now, there are no additional authorities, but I really appreciate [26:30] the question. I want to give a big shout out to my boss, President Trump. Last spring, as you know, [26:35] we were deep into the Department of Government efficiency with with Mr. Musk, and we were working to try to [26:41] return the footprint of government back to something that was reasonable for our taxpayers and for our [26:46] country. But I walked in the Oval Office and I said, sir, there is a a pretty serious threat to our [26:52] livestock that's headed our way. And when we need 500 million sterile flies a week, we're only producing [26:58] 100 million out of Panama because everyone took their eye off the ball years ago. And unfortunately, [27:04] because of the border policies, it's coming our way. And he said, what do you need? And I said, well, [27:08] I need a billion dollars to start building a significant facility to surge staff. [27:13] This was about 14 or 15 months ago. And without hesitation, a couple of questions. But without [27:17] hesitation, he said go. So because of that green light, we were able to move very quickly to prepare [27:23] for today. But we'll stay in very close touch on that. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I think I can [27:29] speak for the committee that we're all committed to helping in any way that we can. And we do appreciate [27:35] your efforts. As I mentioned in my opening statement, farmers across the country are struggling [27:41] in this economic environment. I was pleased that we were able to secure $10 billion in economic [27:47] assistance at the end of 2024, which your department implemented very, very quickly. [27:53] And I appreciate the administration developing additional programs late last year to provide [27:58] further assistance to our row crop and specialty crop producers. I think that we all realize that this [28:06] is still not enough to stop the bleeding in farm country, which is why we're working with Senator [28:12] Hoeven to build upon the farmer bridge assistance program and the assistance for especially crop [28:18] farmers program. I was pleased to hear that the president mentioned additional assistance during his [28:25] event in Wisconsin last week. Can you confirm that [28:29] that this is when we hopefully we'll have a supplemental appropriations in the very near future [28:38] and that this is something that we could get included as we go forward? I will confirm that this [28:44] president on the trip to Wisconsin while we were in Wisconsin on the trip back, his commitment and love [28:52] for rural America and our farmers is real. And as he said, so I'm not getting ahead of him. I'm always a little bit [29:00] concerned about getting ahead of him, but he said at the event on Friday that he wanted to do more. [29:05] And so I think we can work arm in arm and hand in hand across hopefully both sides of the aisle and [29:11] and get to another point where that is possible and feasible for our farmers. No, and I certainly don't [29:16] want to speak for him either. But when we were able to, you know, sign and, you know, able to come up with [29:27] the dollars previously, we mentioned then, you know, that this was great and everybody is very grateful [29:36] for his support, not only in this administration, but in the past one for our farmers, but that we [29:42] might have to come back. And he agreed with that. So I'm very pleased that the administration is being [29:51] aggressive in negotiating new trade agreements and putting high priority on opening markets for ag [29:57] products in these negotiations. I commend the administration for completing 19 agreements since [30:02] the time President Trump took office. I also firmly believe that in addition to strengthening our export [30:08] markets, we must build demand here at home. As I mentioned in my opening statement, I support [30:16] legislation aimed at increasing domestic demand for ag products like the buying American cotton act, the [30:23] Fisher Capital, Klobuchar year-round E15 bill. What are other actions, what other actions is the [30:33] administration taking to increase domestic demand for our American ag products or the areas in which [30:40] the Senate and administration can work together on? Well, I think that the trade piece is important [30:46] and I realize Senator Klobuchar, probably Senator Booker and some of our other friends on the other side of [30:51] the aisle. I have some serious questions about that and I really look forward to having that discussion [30:56] with them. What I will note is when the President had the Liberation Day, which is when he announced [31:01] that instead of going country by country, we're going to have an all-of-world approach on renegotiating [31:06] our trade, that to date, the fact that our grape producers in America, when we send their goods out, [31:13] on average, it's about a 15 percent tariff into other countries. When those goods from other countries come [31:18] into America, it's an average of 5 percent. So our farmers and producers have been, you know, just [31:24] compromised year after year under these trade and tariff regimes. And so in just over a year, 19 new [31:31] trade deals is remarkable, it is historical, it is unprecedented, and it is already paying dividends. [31:37] As I mentioned, we've cut the agricultural trade deficit in half in one year. We expect it to come down [31:43] another 30 percent this year. Corn exports are going to be record-breaking based on the numbers that just [31:48] came out yesterday. We expect a 35 percent increase in volume in corn exports. Dairy exports are going to [31:55] be up almost 10 percent. Sorghum is going to be up almost 100 percent. Tree nuts up 11 percent. Ethanol [32:01] up at least 11 percent, probably more. Wheat exports are up 8 percent. Soybean oil up 129 percent. [32:07] To your point, Mr. Chairman, this opportunity, this is what farmers want. They don't want to farm for a check [32:14] from the government. They want a farm to be able to sell their markets, their goods, on an open market [32:19] that's fair. So that's the international play. And then to your point about the local domestic markets, opening [32:25] that up as well, whether it's E15 or 45Z, all of the work that this administration has done. Again, unprecedented. [32:32] The moves that we've made for our biofuels community, et cetera. And then the next step down, and I know [32:38] you've mentioned cotton. Senator Hyde-Smith and I have talked round and around. I give her a lot of [32:43] credit for bringing the cotton to my attention. And also when I've been out in the country, I've been to [32:48] almost every state. I've visited with thousands of farmers. And I kept hearing cotton and rice, [32:53] honestly, coming up again and again and again as is really, really struggling. The moment that captured in [33:00] my mind, especially with cotton, is with the Make America Healthy Again, how we have basically [33:06] offshored all of our clothing production. 97 percent of our clothes today are made with synthetic fiber [33:12] from a foreign adversary. And that's bad enough. But then when you look at the health impact [33:18] of the sheets we sleep in, of the clothes we put on our bodies, that's real. So the cotton, [33:22] I think renaissance is coming. And I'm really proud to be a part of that with you all. [33:25] Very good. Thank you. Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. [33:31] Secretary Rollins, I just, the numbers for me that matter is the numbers like bankruptcy numbers. And [33:40] in the first quarter, we've had a number of farm bankruptcies in our state with calls to [33:47] the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline up 200 percent nationwide. Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies [33:54] increase for the second year in a row, reaching 315 filings in 2025. This is a 46 percent increase [34:02] from 2024. I just think those numbers don't lie. Farmer lender mediation notices are the highest [34:10] they have been since 2019. What actions is the USDA considering to assist producers facing bankruptcy and [34:18] prevent the loss of more family farms? And why did the USDA budget propose eliminating the certified [34:26] mediation program? So a couple of points on that. Obviously, even one bankruptcy is heartbreaking. [34:33] But a couple of points. There are about, there are 1.077 million farms and ranches in America. The [34:40] bankruptcies that are reflected in your numbers are about 0.03 percent, 0.03 percent of the total farms [34:48] in our country. Now, again, I do not want to sit here and say it's nothing to worry about. Every farm [34:53] is absolutely something we should be fighting to save. We have a concierge effort going for those 300 [34:59] farms that are in Chapter 12. Again, Chapter 12 doesn't mean they're going out of business. It just means [35:03] they're reorganizing. But certainly with the loss of markets, the cost of inputs, etc., there's no doubt [35:09] that the farm economy is facing serious headwinds. And that's what we're all working together to solve. [35:15] On the mitigation program, Senator, let me circle back to you. I want to make sure I fully understand [35:20] what it was that we pulled back and what the utilization was, and then perhaps work together [35:25] to think about how to solve for that. Thank you. Appreciate you getting back to me. And I just, [35:30] our concern is we're heading in a trend, especially when you look at these, the fact that the diesel and gas [35:37] prices are not going to go down anytime soon because we've gone through our reserves as well [35:42] as fertilizer. So we discussed fertilizer and Senator Marshall and I have introduced the Homegrown [35:49] Fertilizer Act to make this program permanent. In the meantime, do you intend to use a new CCC funds to [35:56] support the development of domestic fertilizer? Yeah, so let me answer that because it's an important [36:04] question. And then if we have time, we'll talk about the diesel prices and other things. So [36:09] we realized as fertilizer was coming down before the Iranian conflict and before the Hormuz Strait [36:15] was closed, fertilizer was down about 50 percent on average over the last 14 months. So we were [36:20] headed in the right direction. Gas was way down. Diesel was way down. Of course, with this conflict, [36:26] it has certainly bumped prices up. Now, I do want to say that even though fertilizer prices [36:30] are significantly higher since the Iranian conflict, they're still lower than the peak during the Biden [36:36] years. Having said that, Senator, what this has allowed, this conversation has allowed is a light [36:42] to be shined on the fact that we've offshored our fertilizer production to almost 50 percent of total [36:48] fertilizer in the last couple of decades. This did not happen under any one administration. And so, [36:54] as we've seen that offshore that happened, it's a national security issue. It's obviously a cost issue for [36:59] our farmers as well. I'll talk about the CCC if I have time, but what I'll say is immediately I called [37:05] Chris Wright, our secretary of energy, who has a big pot of money for energy investment, [37:10] made the case that fertilizer is perhaps the most important energy to invest in. And his number two [37:16] largest project he's investing in is a fertilizer plant. We called Howard Lutnick, who has the pot of [37:21] investment funds from the president's negotiated tariffs and trade, a significant pot. He is now [37:27] prioritizing that. And we have the largest ammonia plant in the world that I'm breaking ground on in [37:34] two weeks in Louisiana. Next to it, about a month after that, we're going to be breaking ground on [37:38] one of the largest phosphate plants in the world. So we're beginning to reshore to onshore that [37:44] fertilizer back to America. But just as important, and in fact, I think one of them is in Minnesota, [37:49] there are about 80 more midsize, smaller fertilizer projects going on that we're funding and prioritizing. [37:57] A pretty good one in Minnesota, a big one in Washington state and some others. So we have [38:01] put those on warp speed to get those. I'm going to run out of my time for questions. And just that [38:07] the CCC has 14.3 billion in emergency funding. And I would just encourage you to use some of that for [38:13] the domestic fertilizer. Can I talk to that? Because I think it's mutually beneficial. So [38:17] the problem with the CCC, the loan rate has not been increased for 80 years. What is left in the [38:23] CCC right now, Senator, we're going to need to meet the obligations of the Working Families Tax [38:28] Cut Act and the increase. So if we could all work together, I know we've been talking about that to [38:33] try to open that up. But yes, ma'am, we'll be looking at that too. [38:35] And we discussed early on New World Screwworm and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [38:43] has lost 25 percent of its staff, including more than 300 employees in veterinary services alone [38:50] since the administration came in. How do you plan on ensuring that each of these critical threats, [38:55] such as New World Screwworm, receives individualized resources? We're very concerned about this. [39:02] Yes, ma'am. As I mentioned, a year and a half ago, there were 10 APHIS employees working full time, [39:08] a total of 10 working full time all in. Now we've got over 120. So we've increased the amount of [39:14] employees in APHIS working on New World Screwworm by a thousand percent in the last 14 months. [39:20] So as you can see, we're prioritizing where the big threats are as we're working to ensure that [39:25] we're meeting all of the needs across the country. A different subject. Last November, [39:30] you announced a far reaching final rule implementing crop insurance provisions from the budget bill [39:35] enacted last summer that I did not support. However, buried within that rule was a provision that [39:41] removed an important risk management option for farmers in my state and several others. [39:47] Prevent plant buyup coverage has been a critical tool farmers use to protect against extreme weather [39:53] at planning time. On January 22nd, Chairman Bozeman, Senator Hovind and I led 16 of our colleagues [40:01] asking the USDA to reverse this decision. And Under Secretary Fordyce replied in April indicating [40:09] that concerns are being evaluated. What is the status of our request? [40:12] I actually have talked to Under Secretary Fordyce about that, but I don't have an immediate response. [40:18] But again, I'll check on that today and we'll get back to you, Senator. [40:22] Okay, thank you very much. Thank you so much. And I'll have questions later. [40:26] Okay, sounds good. Thank you. Senator Marshall. [40:29] All right, Chairman. Thank you and welcome, Secretary. E-15, E-15, E-15. Those are my top three priorities [40:40] that I'm preaching to the choir. Thank you for your support of this. You know, why is E-15, [40:44] E-15 important? It would mean another two billion bushels of corn consumption per year. [40:52] Prior to President Trump, maybe we were exporting 2.3 billion. So it's almost like doubling our export [40:57] market. That's why it's important. But I want to talk about 45Z, which I think actually has a 10x [41:03] opportunity compared to ethanol. And maybe you can just update us. We need to get this across the [41:09] finish line as far as the rules. And I know it's out in different agencies. Any update on the 45Z rules? [41:17] Obviously, there's many multiple hands in the proverbial rule pot in the administration, [41:25] but it is a top priority for me personally. And certainly, my partners around the cabinet [41:32] understand that. So it is imminent, forthcoming. I don't want to give you an exact date, but it is [41:38] coming, hopefully, very quickly. And it is really, really important. The regenerative side of that, [41:43] the Maha side, there are just so many wins for so many of our Americans in that. Right. So this, from a [41:49] regenerative standpoint, to your point, is the ethanol companies making the ethanol can pass on [41:54] 10, 20, 30, 50 cents a bushel if they're doing this regenerative agriculture, which is good for the [41:59] soil, which is better for the nutrient health. So I do appreciate this all-of-government approach on [42:05] that as well. We addressed fertilizer. That would probably be my third biggest issue. On trade, [42:11] I want to emphasize value-add is when the American farmer makes money. When we turn corn into beef, [42:18] when we turn soybeans into diesel, that's when the American farmer makes money. And I'm sure you're [42:23] constantly communicating that to USTR. What are the opportunities you think this going forward at [42:30] these 19 trade deals on the value-add part of this? I think they are unlimited. And as I traveled a little [42:37] bit of the world last year and talked to some of these other countries, I was sat down with some ethanol [42:43] buyers in England. And as so many of these countries, whether we agree with them or not, but they have [42:47] put themselves into a certain category of reaching certain numbers on carbon, et cetera, it is our [42:55] farmers in America that will be, I believe, the most benefited from those rules around the world. [43:00] And so now my job at USDA and our other wonderful trade negotiators, Lutnik and Greer and Besant, [43:07] I have this at the top of their list wherever they go. So again, we're already going to break records [43:12] this year on corn exports. Ethanol exports are going to break records. But again, I think it's just the [43:16] beginning of the opportunity. Okay. I want to give you an opportunity to talk a little bit more about [43:20] the CCC needs. And the background to me is this. No one has done more for the American farmer in rural [43:27] America than President Trump has done these last two years. We added $65 billion to crop insurance, [43:34] crop protection. He signed 40-some billion dollars of farm aid, a $50 billion rural health transformation [43:43] fund. We doubled the death tax exemption. The 199A permanent pass through was so important to the [43:50] American farmers and bonus depreciation, interest deductibility. I'm not sure what I'm missing, [43:55] but it was tax. So we doubled the death tax exemption. So we did a lot. We're increasing trade. [44:04] And yet we're struggling, I think mainly due to input cost. And we do need some more help, [44:11] I'm afraid. We need to help more. What does that look like to you? Whether it's more fertilizer, [44:17] like Senator Klobuchar pointed out, some monies towards those projects. Tell me a little bit more [44:22] about what you feel the need is and what we need to do to replenish the CCC. Well, I want to be careful [44:29] because I don't want to get ahead of our entire team, OMB, et cetera. And so just know that those [44:36] conversations are absolutely ongoing. And again, that $30 billion limit is, what, six or seven [44:44] decades ago, I think not tied to inflation. If it had just been tied to inflation when it was first [44:50] enacted, we'd be at $90 billion for the CCC, this loan authority that allows us to move into important [44:58] urgent issues. So I really look forward to working with you all. I know across the aisle everyone is [45:03] very focused on this, at least in this room, but let's keep working together on that and seeing [45:08] what we can get done. Gil, let's kind of probably finish on this screw worm. First of all, I think [45:13] it's important Americans realize there's no threat to the food supply. Correct. And trying to explain [45:20] this to people is a little tough, but you and I grew up on ranches. And first of all, no rancher would [45:26] take an animal with this big, ugly, fleshy wound to the locker plant, first of all. Correct. Second [45:34] of all, even if a human ate, let's say it's a deer, let's say you shot a deer and you're eating this and [45:40] it happened to have this screw worm on it, that our own digestive system would destroy that. I think [45:45] that's important to point out. I think it's important to point out that we saw this coming under the [45:51] previous administration and they refused to respond. When you let millions of people migrate through [45:57] Central America this way, we saw the screw worm just come with them, whether it was on their pets [46:02] or maybe they were bringing livestock. And unfortunately, visiting the border before, [46:07] I saw so many of these people with open flesh wounds themselves that could have been one way to get it [46:11] across the border. We saw it happening. And we were down just basically a male mosquito [46:17] fly, screw worm fly being sterilized in Panama. But the next step, so we sat on it. We prayed about [46:26] it. We tried to monitor it. But you also invested money in the laboratory in Mexico as soon as, [46:33] I mean, like within days after you took office, we talked about this. So take us through that process of [46:38] what we've done in Mexico. Again, you had a time to touch on it. So the second you get into office, [46:44] you're on this. So just run us through that again. Yes, Senator. Thank you. [46:49] We saw it coming. The fact that it had been out of America since 1966, had been out of [46:56] Central America and down past the Darien Gap for more than 30, 40 years. I think that as it began to [47:03] make its way north starting in 2021, 2022, it gets into Central America, 2023 gets into South Mexico, [47:12] and of course 2024, begins to make its way through Mexico. Again, you need about 500 million sterile [47:18] flies to eradicate. Once it was pushed past the Darien Gap back in the 60s and 70s, people just [47:24] stopped that we stopped making the sterile flies. We got down to the 100 million in Panama. [47:28] Within a matter of days, we got approval from the president to, I was sort of shocked that the last [47:34] USDA really had no plans, hadn't really done anything, said, we've got to build our own facility [47:39] in America that will produce between three and 400 million flies per week so that we never let this [47:45] happen again. Understanding that as a radiated facility, it normally takes a couple of years [47:50] for permitting. Pete Hegseth, God bless him, and our Army Corps of Engineers permitted that facility [47:56] in just 60 days, I believe, and then we broke ground, contracted within another month or so. [48:00] So we have shaved years off of that timeline. But in the meantime, the Metapa facility was a fruit fly [48:07] facility in Mexico that Mexico agreed to let us pay for, let us outfit. We started that last summer, [48:14] and it is ready this month. That will be another 100 million flies that are coming online. So there's [48:19] a lot of movement and a lot of money that has been invested to prepare for this moment. Great. Thank [48:25] you, Chairman. And I'd love to come back and talk about the life cycle of the screw worm. The poor females [48:31] only get to mate one time and then they die. This is true. And that's why it's unlimited. And that's [48:37] why these sterile smells are so important and why it works. So the science is there. We don't need to [48:42] study it. We need we've got cures. We got this. That's right. Thank you, sir. And the food supply [48:48] is 100 percent safe. This is not a disease. It's not a virus. It's a it's a it's a fly. So that's right. [48:54] It's good to have an expert on the committee. Senator Booker. I'm sorry. Hold on. Senator [49:05] Welsh. Now, let's go with Booker. Good morning. All right. I'm going to I'm going to deny this if [49:13] anybody quotes me. But secretary, I think you're doing a pretty good job. Oh, thank you. We'll keep [49:18] that on the down low. I don't think your microphone's on. So I'm not sure anyone heard that but me. But I [49:23] will take that. Thank you so much. Here's the thing. You have been responsive in Vermont [49:28] has had a very significant damage from floods that we had in 2023 and 2024. And I've had a chance [49:34] to talk to you. But let me just ask you if you can tell us Vermonters what the status is of the [49:41] Disaster Assistance Block Grant and then also the USDA Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund. And [49:49] both of those are thirty one million dollars. We've been going through the process and hopefully the [49:55] money will be delivered better make a huge difference to us in Vermont. No, that's right. [50:00] And I really appreciate obviously I'm from Texas. I'm from cotton and cattle. My I grew up in the [50:08] summers on my grandparents row crop farm in Minnesota. So I knew row crops and I knew corn cotton and cattle [50:14] coming into this job. I did not know specialty crops obviously as much. And you and others again [50:21] working across the aisle have been some of your colleagues from the northeast in California, [50:26] frankly, have just been really, really good at making sure that I fully understand the challenges [50:31] facing our specialty crop producers. So the block grant that you're speaking of, [50:36] I most of the northeast is in paperwork process. Some of them are complete. I should have had Vermont [50:43] front of center and I don't but I'll follow up with you on that. If it hasn't been deployed yet, [50:47] then it will be imminently. That was a little more challenging for us than the typical row crop or [50:53] typical cattle application. Again, because there are so many specialty crops and every one of them [50:58] is different. And they're the smaller farmer in this country. They don't have the armies of paperwork [51:03] doers. So we've been working with the states. So we can be somewhat, I mean, we're talking about two [51:07] things. The disaster assistance, that's thirty one point seven million. And then the USDA disaster [51:13] assistance fund. And your office has been responsive to me. But what I understand is that both of those are on [51:21] track for deployment fairly quite soon, right? Well, in fact, the crack staff behind me said we signed [51:28] Vermont yesterday. So it's done and should be moving out the block grant piece of that. Mr. Chairman, I like [51:33] that kind of service. Very much. I should appreciate you. You know, the other thing, the USDA is extremely [51:44] helpful to us and really helpful to us in Vermont. There have been some staffing cuts and there's also [51:52] been loss of staff by attrition and there's not been replacement. And it really is a governmental agency [51:58] that has made a significant difference for Vermont Ag. Can you tell me about the prospects of [52:03] restaffing so that we get the help that we need? Absolutely. And my ask for you, sir, and you can pass [52:10] me off to anyone that that has better information if you don't have it. But if we could just get a list [52:16] of whether it's NRCS or FSA or RD, wherever you are really compromised, where you don't have enough [52:22] staff, we will prioritize that. Okay, we will do that. That would be great. We'll get a really good [52:28] look on that. Okay, there's another program in Vermont. It's called the Acer Access and Development [52:35] Program. And it's really helpful for us and our maple producers in Vermont. And Vermont, of course, [52:42] produces the most maple syrup, the best maple syrup through in the United States. In the world? [52:47] Yes, thank you for that. And there's a 30-day requirement window is far shorter than any of [52:57] the previous nine years. And it's making it somewhat difficult to meet internal organizational deadlines. [53:04] Can we work with you about extending that period of application to give our institutions more time [53:11] to get the benefit of this? Absolutely, because I know we adjusted that particular program. So yes, [53:16] if we need more time, then yes, let's make sure that happens. All right. And I want to talk a little [53:23] bit about food for peace. That has been such a contribution that the United States has made [53:29] to hunger across the world. And I understand there's a memorandum of understanding with the USDA [53:35] in the State Department that would give USDA temporary authority to administer this incredibly important [53:42] program. And can you just describe this and the steps that you would take to make certain that the [53:51] goals of the Food for Peace program continue to be met with this organizational restructuring? [53:57] Yes, it's my understanding. Our Under Secretary for Trade, Luke Lindbergh, has really driven that. And I [54:01] think it's been very a successful transition. We talked about this in my confirmation hearing a year ago, [54:06] and it actually happened. And we're really happy to take the program and do with it what we could. If you've [54:12] heard differently, please let us know how we can improve. But really glad to have it. I think it probably [54:18] needs to be codified at some point because it's just under an MOU. So it may switch back. But we're fully [54:23] in support of moving it to USDA fully. All right. I'm going to be quick because I only have a couple of minutes. [54:27] Just on the net. You were mentioning organics and vegetables. The certification program that farmers [54:34] have to go through in order to get organic status. There's been a cost share. And what I understand is [54:40] there is a move now to increase the burden or the share of costs that the farmer has to bear. And I [54:48] want your cooperation on that because I think that increasing that cost to our farmers is going to [54:54] diminish the ability of farmers who do want to make the choice to go to organic to do so. Can we work [54:59] with you on that? Yes, of course. And I know the working families tax cut included extra money for [55:04] that program. So yeah, we'll look forward to building that out. You know, and finally, this is not [55:11] anything that you have control over. But I am so alarmed and concerned about the well-being of [55:17] agriculture, not just in Vermont, but across the country. I agree. You know, a graph that you provided, [55:23] your office provided, shows that in all the big commodity crops of all my colleagues, [55:28] it's costing the farmers more to produce than they're getting paid. And that is just not a [55:34] sustainable situation. That's right. And you know, some of the costs are related to tariffs. That's [55:39] not your policy, but it's having a big impact on the input cost, fertilizer. The tariffs also have had a [55:47] big impact on losing markets for a lot of our agriculture committee, especially in the Midwest. [55:54] And I'm not going to ask you to defend those. That's not your decision or choice. But I just want to [56:00] express to you that I am really concerned about the well-being of agriculture in this country, where [56:07] farmers have to pay more than they're getting paid for the crop that they make. And also, I think this [56:14] committee has to address this, Mr. Chairman. You know, our farmers create an immense amount of wealth. [56:20] They just don't get any of it. That's right. And that is not right. So I know, I think you agree [56:27] with me on this, but I just wanted to make that statement. Thank you. Thank you. And if I may, [56:32] just very quickly, Senator Bozeman, and I know Senator Walsh, you and I could disagree on this, [56:36] but from my perspective, having watched the tariff and the trade negotiations around the world, [56:42] it has opened up those 19 new trade deals, the highest corn exports on record, highest tree nuts [56:47] on record. We've cut the agricultural trade deficit that we inherited, about $50 billion in [56:53] half in just one year. So I understand it's been an imperfect process, but we have actually made a lot [56:58] of strides for our farmers. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you. Senator Taberville. Thank you, Mr. [57:07] Chairman. Thank you, Secretary, for being here. This, it's a disaster. We all know we don't like to go back in time, [57:15] but in the previous administration, we lost 150,000 farmers and 25,000 farms. A disaster. [57:23] It hadn't stopped. We're still losing. Because when you have all those high input costs up to this point, [57:29] the farmers and producers in my state of Alabama, when you have a four or five year losing streak, [57:37] in coaching, you get fired. Well, in farming, you go broke. And that's what's happening. We're having [57:44] tough problems. Just one question about the screw worm. Have we opened any of the border in Mexico, [57:50] either the West Coast or the East Coast at the border? [57:52] No. The ports have been closed for a year. [57:54] Yeah. And that allowed us to keep it out. I think that if we'd open any of those ports, [58:00] we would have had it on our side six months, eight months, 10 months ago. [58:04] Are you putting the fly traps or whatever you call them all along the border? Where are they? [58:09] They are. They're all along the border. We have a polygon that gets adjusted every day. So on [58:13] Wednesday of last week, when the calf with the first confirmed case, a three week old calf in La [58:18] Pryor, Texas was confirmed, we, within four hours, were dropping eight million sterile flies right on top [58:25] of that ranch. And they have had no other cases. And this just proves the efficacy of the technology. [58:30] So yes, we're constantly moving based on where the cases are propping up. And this month, again, [58:34] we'll have more coming online out of Metapa. So we'll be able to expand that. Hopefully with the [58:38] Novo fly, we'll be able to even exponentially expand it by the end of the year. And then we're [58:42] moving up the timeline to get that big production facility ready to go, hopefully before next summer. [58:47] Can our packers and producers make it without Mexican beef? [58:53] Well, I think the larger question is a good one. And that is that our packers are losing a lot of money [58:59] right now because we don't have, it's the lowest cattle herd in history of our country. [59:04] But what's important to realize is that's a worldwide phenomenon. And there's a lot of reasons [59:09] for that. Listen, in America, there's no question that the previous four years to us, the ranchers were [59:14] not number one on the policy list. There's grazing land taken away. A lot of USDA money was shifted to [59:20] more climate focused projects, et cetera. You had a lot of issues with a lot of the different pushback on [59:27] that. And then you combine that with the Make America Healthy Again movement. We have a higher [59:32] demand for beef today than we've ever had before. The carcass weights are bigger now because of [59:37] genetics. So we don't have less beef on the shelves. We have about the same amount of beef on the shelves. [59:43] What's happened is more people are eating it and want it. And as the price has gone up, the demand [59:48] continues to increase too. So we've just got to get more cattle here as soon as possible and incentivize our [59:55] ranchers to retain. It's hard to do that when the prices are really good for these cattle. And [1:00:00] the average herd in America is 45 head. What that tells you is that almost every ag producer has a [1:00:05] herd of cattle and that's keeping them afloat. Yeah. Switch gears here a little bit. My foresters [1:00:11] are getting killed. Our sawmills are closing down. We're getting beat up by Canada. I think we have a 25% [1:00:18] tariff on Canada. It needs to be about 60, 70%. They are flooding our country with lumber. And [1:00:26] our sawmills are going out. We're losing paper mills. We have no place for our wood residuals to go. [1:00:34] I mean, it's becoming a disaster. So our crop farmers are having problems. Our foresters are having [1:00:41] problems. What's your thoughts on the problem we're having with our foresters? [1:00:46] Yeah. I should have mentioned, I said cotton, rice, and we should put forest timber on there too. [1:00:52] We are similar to cotton and rice. We've released cotton. Rice is coming. But timber is next. And [1:00:58] I think there's a lot we can do on the international front with the trade team to continue to push this [1:01:04] and prioritize it. Because you're right. And this is one of the, I mean, fundamental, original [1:01:09] agriculture producers in this country is our foresters, our timber guys, and the timber mills. And [1:01:14] there's a lot of opportunity there, just as we've done in biofuels. I think there's a lot in biomass [1:01:18] we can do. So we'll stay focused on that. And let's work with your office. Yeah, the China can come in [1:01:25] and buy our lumber, our trees, and cut our trees, put them on ship, ship them back, mill them, make [1:01:33] cabinets out of them, the same that we make here, ship them back, and they undercut our prices. And we need [1:01:38] to tear up the hell out of China. I don't understand that. I don't understand why we cannot [1:01:43] protect our people in our country. And I know it's all about diplomacy. But at the end of the day, [1:01:49] we have got to save the people that make things in this country. That's what President Trump wanted. [1:01:54] He wants, hey, let's make things here. Good. Let's tear up the hell out of the people that are shipping in [1:01:59] stuff that we can't undercut. One other thing before my time runs out. Gulf Coast shrimpers, [1:02:07] they continue to face pressure from imported seafood that is often sold at an unfair price [1:02:13] due to foreign subsidies and dumping prices. Can you address that? There is no doubt [1:02:21] our Gulf coasters, well really all of our coasts, are seeing this. North Carolina has a big issue too. [1:02:27] This is, we opened the first ever Office of Seafood. I don't know, Senator, if you were tracking that. [1:02:32] I know some were at USDA. Before, our seafooders, our farmers of the sea, have never even had really [1:02:39] a home in the federal government. But about six months ago, we opened our Office of Seafood with the [1:02:44] sole purpose of making sure that we can better, more actively, and more vigorously advocate for our [1:02:53] fishermen. And the shrimpers are just, whether it's that or labor, there's just all kinds of [1:02:57] challenges there. But we're fully focused on it. Yeah, here's the problem I have. We raise on the [1:03:03] Gulf Coast about 4% of the shrimp that we eat in our country. So 96% of the shrimp that comes that we eat [1:03:09] comes from other countries. If you buy it in a grocery store, basically if you're not on the coast, [1:03:13] you're eating shrimp that is, that comes from sewers, from Vietnam, from Cambodia. I mean, [1:03:22] it's atrocious. And I think we need more oversight on that. You know, they look, [1:03:26] it looks great when it comes in these frozen packages in the grocery store, [1:03:30] but we're putting it in our bodies. We're worried about Maha, and it's a catastrophe. [1:03:35] That's right. One other thing real quick. You spoke about the National Farm Security Action Plan. [1:03:41] How are you working with the Department of War with this for our national security? [1:03:44] I have been so pleased at not just Secretary Hegseth, but across Secretary Besant, all of the [1:03:53] different cabinet colleagues of mine that have accepted agriculture with open arms and put ag at [1:04:00] the very top of the list. I'm now part of the CFIUS committee. I can't believe ag was never part of [1:04:04] CFIUS before the Foreign Investment Relations Committee out of the White House, reviewing [1:04:09] everything that's happening in America from foreign entities and adversaries. So it's been extremely [1:04:14] positive. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator. Senator Schiff. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:04:23] Hi, Madam Secretary. Good morning. You were recently in California, so you know how important our golden [1:04:29] state is to producing healthy fruits and vegetables. This is why last week I introduced a package of six [1:04:35] bills to increase support and level the playing field for specialty crop farmers. [1:04:40] I want to thank you for moving in the right direction with an increased allotment of four [1:04:46] specialty crop farmers from an initial $850 million to $1.625 billion for assistance to specialty crop [1:04:54] farmers. However, specialty crops account for 30 percent of the total U.S. crop sales, [1:05:02] and the industry is facing several billion dollars in losses due to market disruptions over the last [1:05:07] year and a half. They are continuing to ask for $5 billion up from the $1.6 billion in additional help [1:05:14] to have this funding doled out based on revenue, similar to how CFAP II under the first Trump administration [1:05:23] was implemented. And I wanted to ask whether you would consider increasing the amount going to [1:05:31] specialty crops given their significant percentage of the food production in the country and their [1:05:36] significant losses, but also if you would consider reevaluating how that, how USDA is distributing the [1:05:45] relief and using the formula similar to CFAP II under the first Trump administration. [1:05:51] We would love any feedback, and we've said that all along. It's one of the reasons that we [1:05:57] basically doubled, maybe even more than doubled, the original plan. As we have made clear, this is [1:06:04] hopefully we can lean on Congress to step into these gaps, that USDA sort of bubble gumming and duct [1:06:10] taping some of these programs together is very difficult on the bottom line. So we'll look forward to [1:06:15] working together. But yes, of course, we're always open to that sort of feedback. [1:06:18] And is there any constraint in using the CCC money that you need addressed in the Farm Bill or otherwise [1:06:26] to augment what we can do for these specialty crop farmers? [1:06:29] Yes. So what we've discussed is the CCC is a really important tool for USDA. I don't really, [1:06:38] for the American farmer, I don't know that I really ever really appreciated it until this job, [1:06:42] but it has been at a loan limit of $30 billion for decades. It was never tied to inflation when it [1:06:49] was instituted, I think in the 1930s, if I'm not misspeaking. So yes, there's a lot of work that [1:06:55] can, that Congress can do. It's a congressionally authorized fund, obviously, to adjust and even just [1:07:01] tying to inflation. We're obviously talking to Senator Hoven and a lot of people on this committee, [1:07:06] almost daily about the importance of that. And the other important point of that, Senator, is that [1:07:11] a lot of the really good things that happened under the Working Families Tax Cut Act, the reference price [1:07:16] increase, et cetera, that is going to come crop insurance, crop protection, et cetera. The additional [1:07:20] money is going to come from the CCC fund. So we are, we're really stretched right now on the CCC. [1:07:27] Well, we will provide you and I'll make sure that our specialty crop farmers provide you with the [1:07:33] additional information about why using CFAP 2 would be a more fair formula for farmers and more workable [1:07:39] given the nature of how they grow their crops, which is very different than row crops. I've also heard [1:07:46] concern about how USDA is implementing the disaster relief phase 2. Phase 2 was supposed to be the round that [1:07:55] reached specialty crop growers, the ones with shallow and quality losses who couldn't trigger an indemnity. [1:08:02] The payment factor moved to 70% and the deadline moved to August. An extended deadline only helps [1:08:07] if growers can get through the door, but at the same time staffing at the farm service agency county [1:08:14] offices is down. Are you committed to ensuring that these applications get processed by the previously [1:08:20] stated deadline of August 12th? I don't want my farmers left out because the staffing isn't adequate [1:08:28] to process their applications by that date. And can you assure us that the topped up payments for other [1:08:33] producers will not lead to inadequate funding for fruits, nuts, and vegetables? That is, as some farmers go to [1:08:41] get a second allotment, that we're not going to deprive specialty crop farmers of getting even the first [1:08:50] amount of assistance. Yeah, I will note that the reason we extended the deadline is because we got [1:08:55] this feedback. I actually had a call with Senator Slotkin from Michigan, also another very heavy [1:09:00] specialty crop state. I think maybe the number one specialty crop state in the country. Oh, no, no, no, [1:09:04] I have to correct you there. Very much number two. Most diverse, maybe most diverse. But either way, yes, [1:09:13] I will note two important things. Number one, that we will ensure that everyone has the time that they need. [1:09:18] And if you are hearing differently, please let us know. We have worked really hard to adjust FSA offices [1:09:25] to ensure that that is possible. But the second thing, sir, and it may not be as applicable to the [1:09:29] specialty crop industry, but it is important to note that the one farmer, one file we rolled out last [1:09:35] year, the program, the funding program that we put out previous to rolling that out, we, over a course of [1:09:42] five months, I think, had 10 or 12,000 payments move. Under one farmer, one file, in four days, we had 57,000 [1:09:49] farmers apply and money hit their bank account. So we're making a lot of technological adjustments to [1:09:55] hopefully move that much more quickly. But understand the importance of the in-person touch for many of [1:10:00] our farmers that don't want to do it on their phone or their computer. Yeah, and my understanding is [1:10:04] it's a lot more complicated a process for specialty crops because of the multi-year investment that they [1:10:11] make in their trees and their plants compared to what we see with row crop farmers. Let me turn to [1:10:16] one last issue, and that is pest and disease, which remain a evergreen threat in California. Just one [1:10:24] example, the glassy-winged sharpshooter is hitting California grape growers especially hard with an [1:10:30] unexpected and severe detection as of a few weeks ago. I'll soon be sending a letter to you along [1:10:38] with many of my colleagues asking for the release of 32 million to address the sharpshooter. I appreciate [1:10:45] your taking a look at that request and also making sure that we have the staffing we need at APHIS to [1:10:53] detect and diagnose and assist farmers with these endangering pests and disease. Yes, sir. As I [1:11:03] mentioned on Screw Room, we've increased staff a thousand percent in the last year on Screw Room. I [1:11:08] don't have the sharpshooter number in front of me, but I will get to that right away and we'll circle back [1:11:13] to make sure that that's fully funded and in fact probably even put more resources on that. Thank you. [1:11:18] That and red blotch have been just devastating to farmers in California. Thank you, Secretary. [1:11:23] Thank you, Senator. Thank you. Thank you. Senator Moran. Chairman, thank you. Thank you and the [1:11:29] ranking member. Madam Secretary, thank you for the time you allowed me to visit with you and your team [1:11:35] earlier this week at USDA, and I want to especially again thank you for your department's efforts in [1:11:41] regard to Food for Peace. Last, a few weeks ago, we had the Under Secretary, Under Secretary Lindbergh, [1:11:49] with Congressman Mann and I in Kansas to discuss trade and to discuss the opportunity for us to [1:11:56] continue our international food aid programs, and I want to thank you for the acceptance and the work [1:12:03] that you are now operating the Food for Peace program, the acceptance from the Department of State, [1:12:07] and the management and operation of Food for Peace. Madam Secretary, I just received a text, [1:12:14] this is a photo of people in Hugoton, Kansas just yesterday, and they loaded 400,000 bushels of grain [1:12:22] sorghum on their way to a port to be used in the Food for Peace program, one of the very first [1:12:28] opportunities that this has occurred. Did you say 400,000 bushels? 400,000 bushels. Wow. And we have four [1:12:36] Kansans dressed in their bright yellow jackets helping in regard to that grain being loaded. [1:12:45] That's a real, that's a beneficial thing economically, but there's an emotional attachment that comes with [1:12:51] all farmers, all agriculture producers in the noble pursuit of their profession that feeds a hungry world, [1:12:58] and you should take great pride in Food for Peace under your management. I want to make certain, [1:13:04] Senator Hoeven has been not my sidekick, but my leader in the effort to make permanent that transfer [1:13:12] from the State Department. Secretary Rubio testified in response to my questions last week of his support [1:13:20] for this endeavor, and we want to give you all the tools. I would just ask about one thing that the [1:13:26] necessary employees and staff, my understanding is that you're doing the same program with less people, [1:13:32] but I want to make sure that the fact that it's a temporary program now doesn't inhibit, [1:13:38] it'd be another reason that we could make a case for making it permanent so that you could better hire [1:13:43] longer-term employees. That's a good flag, I'll make sure we look at that too. Great. Be sure and tell [1:13:50] Secretary Rubio that USDA is doing more with less, please. It depends on the moment of whether I need [1:13:56] something from Secretary Rubio, but I will be happy to do that at the right time. Kansas, a long time [1:14:04] leading state in cattle feeding, and I say that to a Texan, large numbers of animals are shipped across [1:14:12] the country to be finished. Unfortunately, this movement of cattle has also increased the presence [1:14:18] of the Asian long-hoarded tick, another one for us to be concerned about. It's an invasive parasite [1:14:24] that poses a threat to our livestock industry. USDA's resources are stretched across numerous animal [1:14:33] health priorities, but I want to make sure that we elevate the urgency of this issue to you and to the [1:14:38] Department as its risks are expanding and present not only in Kansas, but now nationwide. So I want to [1:14:48] highlight that issue. Madam Secretary, I also want to highlight at the same time the importance of the [1:14:54] National Bioagri-Science Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. It's the replacement for Plum Island, [1:15:00] currently managed by the Department of Homeland Security. When it transfers from Plum Island to [1:15:06] NBATH, it becomes a part of the Department of Agriculture. It is a part of the Department of [1:15:11] Agriculture now, but the task will become part of your responsibility. I wanted you to know that I [1:15:16] talked this morning by phone with the Secretary of Homeland Security and indicated in a very brief [1:15:23] conversation about the importance of the transition between Plum Island and NBATH, and he indicated a [1:15:30] willingness to work with you and to work with us to make sure that transition works smoothly. So it's on [1:15:36] his radar screen now as well. I'm actually headed there after this for a meeting on another topic, [1:15:40] but I'll bring it up then too. Great. Thank you. And then finally, I want to mention [1:15:46] about the importance of the haying and grazing of CRP. We've had significant fires, grassland fires in [1:15:55] Kansas, tens of thousands of acres burned, significant number of cattle affected, and boy, the challenges of [1:16:05] farmers and rural fire departments in fighting fires that cross huge expanses. One of the reasons, I mean, [1:16:12] I was asking when I was in Clark and Mead counties in southwest Kansas earlier this month, why the [1:16:18] prevalence of these fires? They seem to be more frequent than in the past. And the answer, at least in part, is CRP. [1:16:27] And it's kind of the nature of rainfall in our state. We've been in a multi-year, five-year drought. [1:16:34] But about a year ago, we started having rains again. And the grass on the CRP ground grew and became fuel for fires. [1:16:46] Unfortunately, the drought returned. And so we had a lot of vegetation that then turned [1:16:50] flammable. And so I'd like to work with the department. I'm a sponsor of legislation with [1:16:57] Senator Klobuchar and Senator Thune and others in regard to some of these issues about the [1:17:02] improvement of the use, the flexibility of using CRP ground. And I hope that we understand that it can [1:17:09] be a part of the farm bill as we mark up that important piece of legislation. But in the meantime, [1:17:18] anything that USDA can do, and the point I would make is I didn't really realize this. I always [1:17:24] have known the importance of haying and grazing CRP ground in a drought and the need for feed for [1:17:29] cattle. But the other component of that is that CRP ground needs to be at least grazed to keep it [1:17:35] from becoming the source of the fire that kills the cattle or that destroys their feed. So we have a [1:17:41] significant opportunity, I think, in CRP to better manage and in the process improve the environment by [1:17:48] reducing the chances of fire. Well, and not only that, when you look at trying to rebuild the herd, [1:17:52] then we need that land to get more cattle on. Very important at this time too. That's right. [1:17:57] That's right. No, I'll look forward to that too. Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Secretary. [1:18:05] Senator Lujan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary, if I may continue there where Senator Moran was, [1:18:11] you know, in some of the western states now, and I see vet here, it's good to see you representative. [1:18:17] Recently, some of our ranchers that have allotments were told they can't go in because of drought [1:18:23] conditions into some of their allotments in the forest. And similar to what Jim's saying now, you [1:18:27] know, with the cost of diesel inputs into hay, things of that nature, you know, the same way that [1:18:32] folks in different parts of the country that have row crops, I don't know why there wouldn't be a [1:18:36] program to help offset the cost of hay and those fuel costs as well. If the federal government is [1:18:41] telling folks, you can't go in and you can't use these allotments or because of hay and what's [1:18:45] going on with CRP, there might be something that we could do together, you know, Midwest, [1:18:51] western states that we might be able to figure this out. And this issue just came up, I don't [1:18:55] know, two weeks ago, I was at a commencement representative, and a few of the board members [1:19:01] that have cattle herds were telling me about this. And as you know, different forest, you know, [1:19:05] different decisions, things of that nature as well. So for whatever that's worth, [1:19:09] I hope that that's something maybe we can work on together. [1:19:12] We'd love that. Yeah. Madam Secretary, one of the questions [1:19:15] I have, I think several of my colleagues have asked you about it. And we're one of the states [1:19:19] where the screw worm is now, as you know. And I have a lot of questions in this particular area, [1:19:25] but I'm just getting I'm hearing concerns from folks back home, as you know, and I understand [1:19:31] USDA has set up a 20 kilometer quarantine zone around impacted farms. And they've redeployed staff as [1:19:38] well to help with surveillance and response. The question I have is with the nearly 20% reduction [1:19:46] in APHIS veterinary staff due to the doge cuts, reduction in force efforts, deferred resignation [1:19:51] program with heavier losses in concentrated areas like the Southwest, is that there's just not enough [1:19:58] people. When when emergencies like this come up, and this is an emergency we've known about for a while, [1:20:04] and with watching that darn thing, you know, get closer to the states and then into Texas and now [1:20:09] into New Mexico. My question is, have reduction in force efforts at USDA impacted the ability of the [1:20:17] department to respond to the spread of the screw worm? So the answer is no, it hasn't. What we've done is [1:20:24] we've reallocated resources. Last January 2025, we had 10 full-time staffers on screw worm when we came in the [1:20:30] door. Last week when we confirmed that case, as in May, we have over 120. So we've increased staffing. [1:20:38] This is just USDA. The state of Texas has put significant resources as well. I'm going to call [1:20:44] with your governor very quickly to hopefully work with New Mexico to do the same. Just a quick point [1:20:48] of clarification. The five, the six confirmed cases so far, five Texas, one New Mexico. The New Mexico case [1:20:55] was a dog that was brought over from Mexico. So it has not hit your livestock. It was actually a companion [1:21:02] animal that was transported over the border and then brought to a vet in Andrews County, north of [1:21:06] Midland. But that's why that your case is not quite as concerning. Still concerning, of course. But [1:21:12] but the other cases in South Texas are four calves, babies, basically the umbilical cord is where the [1:21:18] uh the the fly landed, the screw worm landed, which is a fly and then a goat. So we'll continue to [1:21:24] monitor it very closely. Obviously, you guys are New Mexico is the very next state. Uh but you have my [1:21:30] number and we are 24 7 on this right now. We've invested a billion 300 million dollars in screw worms [1:21:37] since we came in the door a year and four or five months ago. We're on it. Uh we've got to get more [1:21:42] sterile flies in the air and that just takes time. It's a radiation facility to get there. And secretary, [1:21:48] if I could work with you and your team to get, you know, disaggregated numbers on the staffing side [1:21:52] here. Sure. Just to understand that. And the reason I asked that is um when uh Stephen Bate, [1:22:00] and I don't know if Stephen's here today, but when when Stephen responded to some questions about [1:22:04] staffing, these numbers were concerning. And so that I just want to understand what's what because [1:22:10] if more people are needed, we need to work together. There's conversations about farm bill and this and [1:22:14] that. We're in appropriation season. If we need to get more folks, we need to get more folks. [1:22:19] So I certainly understand what goals there are out there. But just to make sure that the folks [1:22:24] that are needed are going to be there. The experts are needed. Um and a similar question that I have [1:22:30] in that space is um around technology. Um have have you awarded contracts in that space as well with [1:22:39] just looking at new new technology to be able to stop this this thing? Um what is it technological [1:22:46] advancements? A new world screw room? Yeah. Yes. So we have a hundred million of that 1.3 billion was [1:22:52] uh was a grand challenge. And we had about 220 applications for a couple hundred million dollars. [1:22:59] So we're we've been going through those now. We'll begin to announce those and immediately hit the [1:23:03] green light uh beginning later this week. So you'll see those rolling out immediately. In addition to the [1:23:09] incredible research that's already been done by our ARS, we announced the Novo fly which is a new [1:23:14] strain of fly which only produces male sterile flies. Of course that's how you solve this. They [1:23:20] breed with the screw worm fly, the female, and sterilize that female fly. And then she can't lay [1:23:25] the larva which is what eats the eats the flesh of the animals. So just imagine the the exponential [1:23:32] possibility here to eradicate this much sooner than later when we're only producing sterile male [1:23:37] flies. Because the 50 percent of sterile female flies they're of no use to us. It's the it's the boys [1:23:42] that we need flying to uh sterilize that the screw worm flies. And I understand you you broke ground [1:23:48] for that in Texas already. Is that correct? That's right six about six months ago. Yeah I joined John [1:23:53] Corn and we introduced a piece of legislation like eight months ago on this one. Um I I was getting [1:23:58] concerned that we weren't seeing much activity and things of that nature. So it's good to see that [1:24:03] ground's getting broken. I always ask why couldn't we do it sooner? I'd still like to explore [1:24:07] that. Well if I may we started that process the minute I walked in the door last February [1:24:13] and got permitting done in a couple of months broken ground. But also Metapa Mexico uh we outfitted [1:24:19] that was about a 20-30 million dollar project. That facility is coming online in a couple of weeks. [1:24:24] We began that outfit last year. Very good. And Madam Secretary you know with there's been decisions [1:24:31] in different parts of the administration with funding you know people say different things whatever it is. [1:24:35] Can I just get your commitment that wherever we see this damn screw worm those states are [1:24:40] going to be prioritized? Like now I I get what you shared with on the dog in New Mexico or whatever. [1:24:45] But Texas and New Mexico have had it. So is that a commitment I can get from you? Wherever this [1:24:49] thing starts popping up there's that moves that those states up to the priority with responses. [1:24:54] Is that something you can commit to? No 100 percent. And that's that's been the containment effort. [1:24:59] Every model Senator showed it would hit our side of the border Texas and New Mexico by last summer. [1:25:05] So we've been able to hold it at bay for a year while we've been building out these facilities and [1:25:09] staffing up. But absolutely and the president has been very clear this is a non-partisan issue. We've [1:25:14] got to protect our livestock industry our hunting industry etc. So 100 percent. I appreciate it. And then [1:25:20] last thing Mr. Chairman just as we close out here. Madam Secretary when it comes to food and nutrition [1:25:25] look I understand all the conversations in this space. You know whether it was Speaker Paul Ryan [1:25:30] when I was in the house or everyone that was talking about this stuff. I want to get rid of [1:25:36] waste fraud and abuse across the board everywhere. There's kids that are losing meals now. And I [1:25:43] certainly hope that there's something we can do to come together. There's conversations with [1:25:46] Democrats and Republicans about implementing what Senator Murkowski did about a two-year delay to give [1:25:53] states some more time to look at things and how we can be smarter about stuff as well. I certainly [1:25:58] hope that's something that you could embrace that you could endorse that President Trump. I can't imagine [1:26:03] he wants to see kids not get a meal. No one wants kids to be hungry. So I certainly hope that's something [1:26:07] that we can do together and just say come on y'all like let's come together. We have the same goals. We [1:26:13] just have different ways of getting there sometimes. So let's just find a way to do this one and make [1:26:18] sure that we can we can do something. I appreciate your response there and I hope Chairman that that's something we [1:26:22] can find some commonality with. Thanks for the time today. Thank you Senator. And Senator if I may [1:26:27] just one quick point on that. We sent a letter early last year asking for all the states to partner [1:26:32] with us on eradicating fraud. We had 29 states say yes please help us. 21 states said no thank you. And [1:26:39] I understand there's some politics in that although we did have some blue states who said yes that we're [1:26:42] working with. I would love to help and partner with New Mexico and get New Mexico's data to help us figure out [1:26:49] where the fraud is and where we can really focus on the kids who really need this. Let's end the fraud. [1:26:54] Let's waste the abuse. But let's make sure that kids are not going to starve while we're doing all [1:26:58] this stuff. I think we can do both. And so I'd be happy to work with you on that one. But let's make [1:27:02] sure that these kids are going to get those meals. So appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. [1:27:07] Senator Hatt Smith. Thank you Mr. Chairman. And I want to thank our secretary for being here today [1:27:14] and doing such an outstanding job. I along with Senator Welch think that you are doing a wonderful [1:27:21] job. When I'm reading the headlines about all of these serious serious challenges with screw worm [1:27:28] you give me confidence. You really do that USDA is going to handle these challenges and you've proven [1:27:36] that over and over. So thank you for what you are doing. And I was thrilled about the department's recent [1:27:43] announcement on the Great American Cotton Plan and the initiative to increase the demand to improve [1:27:50] trade and to promote U.S. cotton as the alternative to synthetic fibers which we'll know is safer. It's [1:27:57] a healthier option and it could really be a game changer for this struggling economy and it just makes so [1:28:03] much sense. In 1991 there were 181 cotton gins in Mississippi. Big Ted Kendall down in Bolton, [1:28:13] he still is running his cotton gin that he has for many many years. In 2000 there were only 62 gins [1:28:22] and the total number of cotton gins in Mississippi is down to 33. So that is so significant. I can [1:28:30] remember as a child seeing the bumper stickers cotton is king. It's not king anymore. And you know we can [1:28:37] bring that back and there's no reason why we shouldn't. It's a tremendous economic impact [1:28:43] associated with those figures. When gins disappear, jobs disappear. And the communities in rural areas, [1:28:51] they have very few other options. But a key pillar of the USDA's Great American Cotton Plan is the Buying [1:28:58] American Cotton Act which you've already mentioned. And I thank you for bringing that attention there. [1:29:03] And I introduced it in the Senate and I already have almost 100 members of Congress on board with [1:29:10] that. So what started out a year ago is some people thought it's a messaging bill. We've gotten traction [1:29:17] because it is so logical. But thanks to the unique coalition of the cotton belt farmers, fashion brands [1:29:27] that we all know and have heard of. They've gotten on board health advocates and business leaders across [1:29:33] the nation. They are just embracing the Buy American Cotton Act. And it's become a major priority for the [1:29:40] American producers as well as the retailers. You know we all love fashion. We all love going shopping. [1:29:47] And to think that we're going to have more American cotton in these products because we're buying it anyway. [1:29:53] We just want it safer and healthy. And thank you for your leadership on that because it does represent [1:30:00] a key step into restoring the textile industry here and the manufacturing and the supply chains from our [1:30:07] adversaries. Tomorrow is Seersucker Day in the Senate and it is just an encouragement and started by [1:30:14] Mississippi Senator Trent Lott of wearing cotton, wearing a seersucker suit tomorrow. And I'm going to [1:30:20] encourage my colleagues to do that to acknowledge the cotton farmers. And again, I commend the [1:30:26] administration for endorsing this effort and appreciate your partnership as you travel throughout [1:30:31] the country. But Madam Secretary, will you discuss how the Buying American Cotton Act aligns with the [1:30:37] USDA's priorities to expand in this domestic market for agricultural commodities as well as we strengthen our [1:30:46] national security? Yeah, your leadership on this has been really incredible. And of course, coming from a [1:30:51] cotton state, I had heard before this job all of the challenges. I didn't quite fully understand how [1:30:58] really bad it had gotten out in the industry with the mills, etc. And it occurred to me that at this moment [1:31:06] in time with Make America Healthy Again, with putting America first, with opening up the markets around the world, [1:31:12] with working to reshore and protect American markets, that cotton should be at the very top of that list. [1:31:18] And there's certainly been a lot of struggles. And as I have seen with Secretary Kennedy, these incredible [1:31:24] commitments, I was just with the IDFA, the dairy team yesterday, and they've made all these amazing [1:31:32] commitments to take food coloring out of their ice cream and to do this with their ice cream and just to [1:31:39] make it healthier again. And my vision with with your partnership, probably your vision too, is that [1:31:44] all these great American companies should should be at the table and say from now on, I'm going to [1:31:50] start with let's say 20%. I'm only going to buy American cotton and then 50% and then more. And let's [1:31:55] get back to the days where most of our clothing, etc, sheets, etc, are sourced with great American cotton. [1:32:02] And then let's talk about it on the world stage. And let's make it a priority as we're out across the world. [1:32:08] I think there's so much opportunity there. And this is this is what our founders envisioned, [1:32:12] right? It's it's the elected members of the people working together with an executive branch that can [1:32:18] go out and fight for the American dream and the American people. Yeah, you know, just the hotel [1:32:23] industry and towels and sheets. That's right. This is so doable. Would change everything. [1:32:28] You know, I just am so grateful that we're headed in that direction now, because obviously, [1:32:34] in the past, we took our eye off the ball there. Another topic I want to discuss is that something [1:32:39] you've spent a lot of time with the new world screw worm. And that's been confirmed here in [1:32:44] the United States that we were expecting and knew it was going to come and the preparedness that your [1:32:51] leadership has put forth to be ready for this. It's outstanding, because we certainly thought it would [1:32:57] be here last fall and, you know, the investments that you've made that, you know, but this pest, [1:33:04] this screw worm complicates the challenge of rebuilding the national cattle herd as well from [1:33:10] a low record. And recent discussions about beef imports have concerned me and other members of [1:33:16] how it could impact the strength of our domestic industry going into the future. [1:33:21] We know the cattle market, it's a global market. It's like any other agricultural market. It goes [1:33:27] through highs, it goes through lows, and we do need to ensure we're protecting our industry with only [1:33:33] the necessary government intervention. But we've got to address this shortage. That's the only thing [1:33:39] that's going to get us where we need to be. Because when I go to meetings of cattlemen, I look around the [1:33:44] room and, you know, our average is like in their 60s. So we need to incentivize young producers that [1:33:51] they want to get into producing fine cattle in this country. And we can definitely do that. I know so [1:33:59] many that want to be a cowboy. We just got to help them get there. Madam Secretary, what is the [1:34:05] administration doing to break down barriers for producers to rebuild their herds? And what should [1:34:10] Congress be doing to help you achieve those goals? Well, I think Congress did an amazing thing in [1:34:16] the Working Families Tax Cut Act when we increased the definition of a young farmer or rancher from [1:34:22] five to 10 years. That allows more access to a lot more programs at USDA to undergird and to support and [1:34:28] to, you know, vision cast for these ranchers so they see a future in this business, especially the first [1:34:34] and second generationers obviously want to protect the multi-generations. But the incentive to get into the [1:34:39] business is really important. The magic, if you will, of the Make America Healthy Again movement [1:34:45] is that almost $400 million a day that USDA spends in nutrition programs, $400 million a day across 16 [1:34:53] nutrition programs, as we're working to localize and get healthier food and real food like protein or [1:34:59] great American beef into schools, into school lunches, into the stocking standards for our retailers [1:35:05] that are taking the SNAP program. You know, these are all market-moving, game-changing opportunities [1:35:11] that incentivize while ensuring on the back end that we're fighting the lawfare fight. I mean, [1:35:16] you all see this as much as I do. We're leaning in and all the ranchers who, you know, I've got one in [1:35:21] Arizona, fifth-generation who's about to lose his ranch because the state declared it needed more land [1:35:26] for solar panels. The same thing's happening in upstate New York. We had the same thing with a 175-year-old farm [1:35:32] in New Jersey. We're fighting for the King Ranch family in Washington. So it is a multitude of issues, [1:35:38] but ensuring that we're preserving these great generational ranches from a national security [1:35:44] perspective. It's not just because it's the righteous and right thing to do. This is a national [1:35:48] security issue. While we're incentivizing the next generation to lean in, while we're taking the [1:35:54] burdens off, you know, that the grazing allotments and regulation under the last administration were [1:35:59] pretty severe, it was very clear there wasn't really an incentive to support cattle ranching. [1:36:04] And so we opened up about five million more acres of federal government land for our western ranchers [1:36:11] and giving them more access. So there are a lot of steps we're taking, but ultimately I do think this [1:36:16] is a national security and a real priority. Yes, we have to be able to feed our country. There's no doubt. [1:36:22] And another thing I want to mention, I know my time is out, [1:36:25] is with the timber industry, multifamily housing built with wood. That's right. [1:36:30] Wood. There's no reason we should not be going in that direction. And I would love to see some [1:36:35] incentives there for those developers who choose wood, which is safe and a lot of times a lot quicker [1:36:43] to put up, which reduces the labor cost on a multifamily housing that we know we have a dire shortage in [1:36:50] this country. Thank you. That's great. Thank you, Senator. Senator Booker. Very patient over here on [1:36:59] the left. Thank you very much. It was actually good to hear from everybody. Madam Secretary, I, [1:37:04] this is bigger than you. And frankly, both parties, I think, have been rather feckless in dealing with [1:37:14] the larger trends we're seeing in our country. [1:37:17] I got here under the Obama administration. I have seen Trump one. I've seen Biden. I've seen [1:37:24] Trump two. And the trends are staggering what we're seeing in our country when it comes to farmers. [1:37:30] And even since our last farm bill, we've lost over 150,000 farms in our country. It's 51 farmers, [1:37:40] families losing their farms every single day. It's a staggering reality. And I've met with so many [1:37:50] farmers who tell a story about the economics of farming just not working for them anymore. [1:37:56] Mm-hmm. We're seeing massive corporate concentration. We're seeing farmers. I've sat with [1:38:03] Republican and Democratic farmers who tell me their father and grandfather had five buyers for their [1:38:09] goods. Now there's one that's dictating price. That's correct. I see them talking about their input [1:38:15] costs just going up and up and up, and they're squeezing them. That their share of the consumer's [1:38:21] dollar used to be over 50 cents. Now it's down to 13, 14 cents per consumer dollar when we buy our [1:38:28] groceries. That's how much of it is going to the farmer. These are trends that are staggering. And [1:38:35] and just since you were confirmed, and again, I'm not placing this on you. I think we all need to accept [1:38:40] responsibility for this crisis. But just since you were confirmed, 15,000 more farms [1:38:46] have gone out of business. And that's majority of small farms in our country. We have a real alarm [1:38:53] going off. And from a lot of farmers I talk to, they really feel like we're heading into the kind of [1:39:01] 1980s farm crisis that we saw. And so I just often think that we're not standing up to the gravity of the [1:39:10] crisis to reverse these trends. The partisan farm bill that came out of the house, it doesn't do [1:39:17] anything bold to meet this crisis. It's not going to stop all of these farmers that you talk to, that [1:39:23] I talk to, who are barely making ends meet. Most farmers now have to take jobs off of their farm just to [1:39:32] make ends meet. And so I just want to say that I just hope this committee, I hope we, when we take our [1:39:43] crack at the farm bill on this side, come up with a lot bolder and bigger ideas. And yeah, I disagree with [1:39:50] a lot of the things that President Trump's doing. And I believe the tariffs have not been helpful. I think [1:39:57] they've been reckless. I'm upset with some of the programs we've cut that I know. Again, I hear from [1:40:04] Republican farmers, Democratic farmers, local food purchasing programs for schools and the like, [1:40:10] some of the cuts of field offices. But I again think that we're nibbling around the edges and need [1:40:17] to start thinking about far bigger approaches and bolder ideas, or else we are going to witness, [1:40:24] as I said, with dozens of farms closing every single day, we're going to lose our heritage, [1:40:32] lose the best stewards of our land, lose what makes, I think, this country secure and its economy strong. [1:40:41] And so I just put that out there because I just want to sound the alarm every chance I get, [1:40:46] and really challenge all of us to meet this crisis. Because right now we're not. The trends are [1:40:52] continuing. They've continued under multiple presidents. And we're spiraling to a point where I [1:40:57] think the very idea of the American farmer is going to go from the kind of hallowed ideas of [1:41:06] independent family farms to a corporatized system that just undermines the health, well-being, safety, [1:41:14] and economic security of our country. I want to go to some specifics really quick and just talk about [1:41:21] the Food for Peace program. U.S. foreign aid cuts that we saw triggered this real collapse in the [1:41:29] humanitarian funding. I was happy to hear my colleague talk about the power of that program [1:41:34] for American farmers. We've seen hundreds of thousands of people died as a result of these cuts. [1:41:40] And the USDA's restart of commodity purchases for the Food for Peace program is something I'm very [1:41:47] grateful for. The $450 million of emergency food assistance that the USDA announced in February, [1:41:53] you decided that the food should be sent to seven different countries. Last month you announced [1:41:58] another $360 million. Again, I celebrate this in emergency food assistance. I'm glad to see the commodity [1:42:05] purchases and the difference it's making for farmers. Globally it's estimated that there are over 320 [1:42:11] million people facing crisis levels of hunger, 40 million people on the brink of starvation. [1:42:17] It's just something that we need to continue moving forward and I'm hoping that we can continue to work [1:42:23] work together and make sure that those farmers that are involved get even more of a benefit of being a [1:42:33] part of meeting a humanitarian crisis. So I want to say that in a sense of gratitude. I also want to talk [1:42:38] about this idea of ultra processed foods. I think it's an area where I'm willing to lean in and partner [1:42:45] with you and with Secretary Kennedy. Diet related chronic diseases is the number one killer of Americans. [1:42:53] One out of four of our teenagers are pre-diabetic. Half the children living in the country are projected [1:42:59] to be obese by the time they're 35. I mean we should be ringing alarm bells and and and the science is [1:43:05] now trying tying much of this health to really these ultra processed foods that now make up two [1:43:11] thirds of the calories for our children. Again, I was really glad to see the dietary guidelines [1:43:17] call out the need to reduce ultra processed foods. I think we need to move more aggressively [1:43:22] and I'm really hoping that maybe even for QFRs you can really let us know how you're going to really [1:43:31] update and align the dairy dietary guidelines so that we can get these ultra processed foods out of our [1:43:37] out of our schools. I'm hoping that you and your team could move with with a really great sense of [1:43:43] urgency. And the last thing I'm going to say and then you can respond to anything you want [1:43:46] is just something that Chairman Thune or Leader Thune and I really agree with which is this idea of [1:43:57] country of origin labeling. As you know we've worked extensively with the Biden administration to get [1:44:04] voluntary country of origin labeling requiring any beef label this product that you say come from [1:44:11] cattle that are born raised and slaughtered in the United States. I really want to thank you for [1:44:16] implementing that policy change but what what I am seeking with a sense of urgency what I believe [1:44:23] our cattlemen need is mandatory country of origin labeling. That that be reinstated and I'm proud to [1:44:30] be on a bill with Senator Thune and I'm really hoping the Trump administration will get behind that. It [1:44:37] protects American cattlemen and women. It protects our own industry as opposed to letting people undercut us [1:44:45] who don't have the same labor laws, don't have the same practices. It's clearly unfair and American [1:44:50] consumers want truth in labeling. American consumers want to support American beef producers. So I just [1:44:58] want you to know those all the things are on my mind. I love the fact that I can have a dialogue with [1:45:02] you. You're of all the secretaries one of the easiest accessible but with that I'll give you a chance to [1:45:08] respond to anything you want or we can move on. Just very quickly because I know we're out of time. [1:45:13] As you were speaking, thank you for all of that by the way, as you were speaking [1:45:16] I was reminded of and I think this kind of checks all the boxes that you just outlined in a way. I was [1:45:22] reminded of two farmers that I met in Albuquerque, New Mexico about a year ago. Two brothers. Dad is a [1:45:29] doctor, mom's a professor. They grew up in New Mexico. Both went off and got fancy degrees from fancy [1:45:35] schools. Both wanted to be farmers. First generation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Not the most conducive [1:45:41] environment to be a farmer but about 15 years ago they decided to grow lettuce and I visited so I have [1:45:47] it's still in my mind I can see it. They have six employees. They grow together and support both of [1:45:53] their families. They're both married with children. They grow about 250,000 heads of organic lettuce on [1:45:59] about three acres in the desert of New Mexico. Their source goes directly to the school and to the hospital [1:46:07] and again never America is the breadbasket of the world. The support and the honoring of our of our big [1:46:14] farmers are the ones that that farm thousands and thousands of acres that that would we have to have [1:46:19] that to feed the world. But as we're looking to make America healthy again and as we're looking to open the [1:46:25] aperture of the market for first generation farmers and as we're looking to completely recalibrate our [1:46:31] nutrition programs our 16 nutrition programs in America just through USDA that spend 400 million [1:46:36] dollars every single day there's such a almost a perfect storm right now and then you add the chronic [1:46:43] disease on top of that for that sort of farm to come along. So you're going to be hearing a lot more [1:46:48] from us on that and I would welcome the opportunity to work together. Obviously New Jersey is maybe on the [1:46:53] front end of some of that urban farming and the opportunity to do a lot more with a lot less land [1:46:58] and bring more first generation farmers in. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Senator Justice. [1:47:11] Hey Brooke, how you doing? Good to see you. Good to see you. Madam Secretary, you know what an incredible [1:47:20] superstar you are and I mean that from the very bottom of my heart. Thank you. What President Trump has done [1:47:30] and what his heart and I know his heart I know his heart really well and what he's done and what he's [1:47:38] trying to do he's trying just as hard as you to try to fix an enormous problem. You know me well enough [1:47:47] to know that I'm a I'm a business guy and I'm an organizer I'm a coach I'm the guy really and truly [1:47:58] that's the almost the fix-it guy you know to where you got 18 parts of the puzzle and they're flying in [1:48:05] 500 different directions and you know you got to some way be able to put them together. We have an [1:48:11] incredible chairman here we have great ranking a great ranking member we have great committee people [1:48:19] that that really have their hearts in the right spot we do I am absolutely positive as this of this [1:48:25] as I can be in every way now I'm telling you the problem is enormous it is enormous beyond all [1:48:37] comprehension and every single moment and I don't know how in the world that you have your sanity at [1:48:43] all right now because with every single moment there's somebody coming to you but it may be [1:48:51] fertilizer it may be specialty crops it may be forestry it may be whatever but it's coming in every [1:48:57] direction known to man and you're doing great stuff you're absolutely doing all kinds of great stuff [1:49:05] now my advice would be just this you know I heard a long long time ago you know people would maybe go [1:49:16] to church and then they'd get up in church after they got you know they walk outside and then it'd be [1:49:23] belly aching about something they'd say well you know the minister didn't look very good today wasn't [1:49:28] dressed up very good or whatever it may be and I was told over and over son don't listen to the [1:49:39] specifics hear the message and what I think we're doing and this is really concerning to me I don't [1:49:50] think we'll get there I really don't because this has been an ongoing problem for decades and decades and [1:49:59] decades and we put all kind we put really all kinds of resources in trying to fix the problem [1:50:07] and at the end of the day it's almost like sticking your finger in the dike and 5 000 holes of blowing and [1:50:14] everything else and you run it out of fingers now look if I could give you anything from this white [1:50:22] hair the guy that's done lots of stuff the guy that you've got to remember his grandparents never [1:50:31] had indoor plumbing I mean what is the chances of this guy that used to be skinny and had brown hair [1:50:39] I mean what is the chances of him being here it's absolutely just like zero zero zero look [1:50:49] I would highly highly recommend if there was a way to do it to where you could pick a couple people [1:50:57] that had the confidence of the people that were around them in the house and maybe a couple people [1:51:03] on both sides of the aisle in the house and a couple people on both sides of the aisle here now you can't [1:51:07] get it too big that had the real ear and the real confidence challenge them to come up with a list of [1:51:15] every single thing that they absolutely needed to be able to get into a farm bill to where we could [1:51:21] get through it and we could absolutely make something of it don't make the members that we're talking to [1:51:30] a committee because and I've said it before but the definition of committee is really simple in my [1:51:38] world it's most generally a collection of individuals that have never accomplished anything by themselves [1:51:45] but collectively they can all get together and decide nothing can be done that is the definition [1:51:51] of committee now what you need brooke you need some folks that have the ear and the confidence of the [1:52:01] people in the house and the ear and the confidence of the people in the senate and absolutely then you [1:52:08] need a plan you need a great big plan and I know you think you've got all that right now and I love you with all [1:52:16] my soul and I think president trump and you have done unbelievably good stuff but I'm telling you in [1:52:23] Jimmy's world we're not gonna get there and there's lots of folks out there that are really hurting and [1:52:31] they really are dependent on us and nobody nobody there's nobody in this room that has a soul any better [1:52:38] than this great secretary right here I'll promise you that nobody cares more in this room than her but you [1:52:46] see I'm that guy I'm the business guy I'm the fixer I'm kind of the organizer I'm the farmer for crying out [1:52:57] loud I understand this stuff really understand it and I'm a coach so with all that being said I would [1:53:07] highly highly recommend that what we don't do is spin around three or four times do a lot of stuff that we're [1:53:16] proud of you know do stuff absolutely that we're really proud of and then we can absolutely step back and throw [1:53:24] back you know on previous administrations and say well they didn't do this they didn't do this look what we did and we [1:53:30] did move the ball but we're not going to solve the riddle so I would just tell you and you've got to have you've [1:53:38] got to have people around you that really have the ear and the confidence of the people because they're going to have to go back and [1:53:45] sell this whole thing they're going to have to sell it on the house side and sell it on the senate side and [1:53:50] literally you've got a lot of great people to choose from they'll have to be really senior people so [1:53:57] they'll kick me out of the process and everything but I am telling you I mean it when I say everybody [1:54:04] on this committee is on board everybody on this committee wants it to happen in a good way our [1:54:10] chairman and ranking member wanted to happen in a good way all of y'all wanted to happen in a good way [1:54:16] and I will promise you to god above to god above I know president trump better than anybody and I am [1:54:25] promising you he wants goodness for our farm communities our forestry our ranchers he wants [1:54:31] goodness for us and this lady right here is a superstar I am really pessimistic that we're going to get there [1:54:42] but I'll do anything in the world I can to help I'm sorry I didn't ask any questions you can comment all [1:54:49] day long on what I said but thank you so much for being here thank you senator I think that was well [1:54:55] said and look forward to doing just that thank you and thank you for your friendship thank you uh [1:55:03] senator schlocken thank you um hi secretary um I have a couple of comments and a couple of questions [1:55:12] first of all on tariffs you know no matter the intention as as senator justice was talking about [1:55:18] anyone's intentions I enjoy facts and as a former cia officer the facts on the tariffs and what they [1:55:26] have done to farmers are are really they're pretty hard to dispute in the president's first term before [1:55:32] your time he put tariffs on a bunch of different um ag products um and then this body had to approve 23 [1:55:41] billion dollars in assistance in essentially welfare for farmers and farmers hate getting welfare [1:55:47] in the second term the sloppy tariffs have been thrown on now we have 12 billion dollars in assistance [1:55:54] that again welfare for farmers that's 35 billion dollars that this body has approved because of [1:56:02] president trump's tariff policy and we can dispute whether you think in the long term it's going to [1:56:08] work all I know is that taxpayer dollars 35 billion dollars now some of that um a small portion [1:56:17] was set aside for for specialty crop farmers and I understand um you were on team michigan versus [1:56:22] team california on who has the most diverse specialty crops we appreciate that um and I appreciate you [1:56:29] taking my call and trying to expand both the amount of money that my farmers get small and medium-sized [1:56:35] farmers and also the deadline for which they could apply but I just have to say you know if we're [1:56:41] talking and you're you're highlighting 19 new trade deals that this administration has done why do we [1:56:46] need the sloppy tariffs why do we need them may I respond to that because I bet you very quickly [1:56:52] it'll be very quick the 30 billion dollars you're talking about was approved before we came in so [1:56:56] y'all voted on that late 2024 uh that 30 billion we came in and implemented the tariffs in 2025. [1:57:03] so just so you know it but is there not 12 billion in assistance that you are currently farming out [1:57:08] to farmers including mine because they do not have enough money and have lost access to foreign [1:57:14] markets yes or no we've cut the ag deficit in half so we're actually expanding the foreign markets [1:57:19] so that that 12 that 12 billion well 11 billion you're talking about that came in december of last [1:57:24] year that was to address the very high input costs and again that ag trade deficit and then bringing [1:57:30] around um the specialty crops into the back end as we were looking at the china yeah all i know is [1:57:35] that we we cut off markets um we never get them back soybeans never came back in the way you know [1:57:41] the chinese are now buying soybeans so i i don't want i want to actually know the soybeans are back and [1:57:46] even stronger today as is sorghum so that that's all in the last month so you may not have the most [1:57:50] okay well i will tell you i don't i i think it's hard to explain why there's literally assistance [1:57:58] being farmed out by your agency for a policy that's working why would you need welfare if [1:58:04] you are have access and are going gangbusters on being able to sell abroad and i think that's [1:58:09] that's a like a rational thought for the use of taxpayer dollars separately um i think again there's [1:58:15] widespread agreement i think on this committee on e15 now i'm on team e15 um and i think there's um [1:58:23] some democrats who are against it and some republicans who are against it but there's a good coalition of [1:58:27] us in the middle um and i think that um it means letting our farmers have more opportunities to [1:58:34] sell their product corn farmers ethanol um if this doesn't get done i the only explanation i have is [1:58:41] that the oil and gas community has such sway over members of congress um on the republican side and that [1:58:50] others maybe in the environmental side have so much sway over democrats that we can't do a rational [1:58:55] policy um on e15 we have all the pieces in place to get it done i would just say your personal [1:59:02] engagement on this issue we keep hitting a logjam um for a rational policy i i want to get this done [1:59:08] i think if we do not get it done this year it's not getting done and i want you to help own that up [1:59:13] here because we need some help it's at a logjam yes 100 on board thank you on chinese communist party [1:59:22] buying u.s farmland and other adversaries of the united states not just chinese so i have a bill on [1:59:28] this there's a million bills on this because the average american just understands that someone who's [1:59:34] a potential adversary of this country shouldn't be able to buy both our farmland and our agribusinesses [1:59:39] like the the the things that really make sure we can feed ourselves by ourselves so um we again we have a [1:59:47] coalition ready to do this the president goes off and meets with xi jinping in this summit with the [1:59:52] head of china and he was asked about this on fox news and they said shouldn't we ban selling of [1:59:59] farmland particularly around military bases and he said quote you you want to see the price drop you [2:00:06] want to see farmers lose a lot of money just take them out of the market so that is officially as i [2:00:13] understand it that the president of the united states is fine with the chinese communist party [2:00:18] being able to buy farmland or agribusinesses please state your official position on whether [2:00:24] you agree with president trump or you do not the president is very focused on protecting farmers [2:00:31] as part of our national security plan obviously understanding the chinese purchase of our chemicals [2:00:36] our seed our farmland all of the above is very concerning and i've talked about that he agrees with [2:00:41] that okay well again it the when the republicans have the white house the house and the senate [2:00:47] whether it's e15 or in this case banning the chinese from buying our farmland you want it done [2:00:52] you guys own everything and you're the secretary of agriculture so i it's hard to believe that we [2:00:59] really are the president is okay with selling land to the chinese it's hard for me to understand it if [2:01:05] you're saying there's something different then prove it by passing it through this body we're ready for it [2:01:12] and then just lastly i wish i could personally pass things through your body we'd probably be all of [2:01:16] us a lot further along but i understand but i gotta tell you if you started calling people like [2:01:20] you know the senator was saying you have play out here on the hill the republicans own the house and [2:01:25] the senate at least for the next six months so could we please get some personal engagement because i [2:01:31] i believe that this is the window of time to do it um and if we are headed to divided government [2:01:37] things get even harder on things that i think there's a coalition on so that's my request and [2:01:43] lastly i just have to say on snap you know we have you know the the big beautiful bill was the single [2:01:49] largest cut in food dollars 187 billion in our history and we can disagree on our responsibilities [2:01:58] in government but all i can tell you is the facts and the facts are a hundred thousand michiganders have [2:02:06] lost their food benefits 35 000 of that 100 000 are children and because of the delay in um in how you kind [2:02:15] of penalize states for in cost share issues it's going to cost my state another 330 million dollars [2:02:22] i want to pass a farm bill i'm desperate for it but we've got like i can't be expected to watch my [2:02:28] people go hungry and my state incur 330 million dollars just this year and be part of the team so [2:02:36] please let's work together on some compromises and i'm saying that to you but also to my chairman [2:02:41] i yield back senator hove thank you mr chairman uh secretary thanks so much for being here and [2:02:49] for your good work uh i want to start out on uh i know hard you've worked on uh make sure fertilizer [2:02:56] is available to our farmers and on the price you've worked with us on our uh on the ag tech initiative [2:03:02] with grand farm in north dakota and our efforts to link with energy and produce more fertilizer here at [2:03:08] home is there anything else in the fertilizer front that you'd like to bring up and i i know how [2:03:13] active and aggressive you've been working on this issue thank you for the opportunity um mr chairman [2:03:20] i i think that it's really a testament and thank you for giving me a little space to talk about this [2:03:27] this administration is different i was in the first one i'm very proud of the work that was achieved [2:03:32] and i think we did a lot together but this one is different and what i mean is when we saw what was [2:03:38] happening and just as a level set fertilizer was down 50 percent before the iranian conflict from the [2:03:44] biden highs but even today even with the conflict even though fertilizer is way too expensive it's still [2:03:52] less than it was during the biden years and i think that's an important point but the opportunity for [2:03:58] me to call chris wright the head of the army corps of engineers howard lutnik lee zeldin not their staffs [2:04:06] not two months of time and meetings but to literally call my colleagues and say we have a fertilizer [2:04:12] crisis in this country we have a moment in time to fix it while everyone's looking at fertilizer [2:04:18] we're going to do all the short-term things fertilizer prices are now coming back down even with [2:04:22] the straight still closed but for the long term i am so bullish on this is a model not just fixing [2:04:30] fertilizer but what we can do for other inputs for our farmers for the long term and i think this is [2:04:34] an incredible first step and i'm so proud and grateful to my partners in this who've stepped up [2:04:39] and said we're going to help with this i agree with you and i think that important point is that you're [2:04:44] focused on not just addressing it now but bringing it down with real solutions that will make a difference [2:04:49] for the long term that that is a vital point that we have to keep in mind that's how to approach these [2:04:54] things to make them better for the medium and the long term not just right now so i really appreciate [2:05:00] that same thing on screw worm and in a way i want to commend you because i mean you're on the front lines [2:05:04] you're in texas nobody knows that but and you were talking to me about that before there were any here [2:05:10] in this country and addressed it uh by closing the border as well as the uh sterile fly facilities uh i mean [2:05:17] you've been on this from the start really important anything else on screw worm efforts you want to [2:05:22] bring up you know i walked in to this job uh i was with you all february 13th of last year uh then or [2:05:31] january 27th i went to the vote february 13th and went over to justice thomas got sworn in walked in the [2:05:35] door of usda and and uh within the first two hours was briefed on both hpai and screw worm the screw worm [2:05:44] um briefing was it's coming it will be here in a couple months this summer we are only producing [2:05:49] 100 million flies a week we're years away like an actual big facility will take at least five years [2:05:55] two years of permitting three years of build um but we you know oh well i guess we're just going to do [2:06:00] what what we have to do and and i said this is not this is not acceptable that i we've got to try to [2:06:06] do something so of course we closed the ports i went and talked to the president we got almost a billion [2:06:10] and a half in immediate funding i asked what this breached the darien gap in 2021 after decades of [2:06:18] being you know eradicated if you will but that you know tens of millions of people moving north to [2:06:23] america bringing their livestock with them the mexican cartels with the illicit cattle traffic [2:06:29] we knew it was coming put it off for a year but in the meantime uh amped up by a thousand percent our [2:06:35] staffing over the last year i had fda emergency approve half a dozen or so treatments uh texas [2:06:43] animal health commission and and the other states will lead now the front line but we're right there [2:06:48] with them opened up the new facility in kerrville texas the new research facility outfitted the new [2:06:53] facility in metapa mexico tens of millions of dollars we're going to have more sterile flies in [2:06:58] the next few weeks we started that last summer and of course broke ground uh within years ahead of [2:07:03] schedule and we'll hopefully be opening that next spring again years ahead of schedule i say all of [2:07:07] that because what i don't understand senator hoven is how did the last usda watch it coming for years [2:07:17] it broke the gap in 2021 moving up 2022 moving up 2023 spreading spreading spreading hits mexico 2024 [2:07:28] there's no stopping it there's not enough sterile flies why did no one do anything about it until we [2:07:35] walked in the door in january and february of last year it is a question that i still don't understand [2:07:40] but we're making a lot of progress and rock walked in the doors the right term because i think the [2:07:45] second or third time you and i talked you were already moving on getting funding for sterile fly [2:07:51] facilities and of course shows the importance of ccc like we've talked about too but you were on this [2:07:55] uh right from the get-go and it obviously we're seeing why it's so important that you were and [2:08:03] are and continue to be uh we need to pass year-round e15 the house passed it deb fisher senator fisher has [2:08:10] a bill in the senate and i think along with our uh our great chairman here and senator thune that we're [2:08:17] really ready to go and get that done i i think we're we're good to go any thoughts there or encouragement [2:08:24] that you want to add to that effort yeah i again we're we're very supportive this president has [2:08:31] been unequivocal in his support when he was in iowa a couple of months ago which i think helped [2:08:36] hopefully hustle this along a little bit uh he's been it did it absolutely did yeah yeah i mean since he [2:08:43] came out on it i think we've been making progress and we're i think we're going to get it done soon [2:08:48] knock on wood i mean our guys need it uh thanks for your great support of it uh on the farm bridge [2:08:54] assistance we continue to work on that the farm bridges you provided so important uh any thoughts [2:09:01] there again it's about in the one big beautiful bill uh again thanks to our great chairman we [2:09:06] updated arc plc we've got my crop insurance bill in there that's going to kick in in october but again [2:09:11] getting our guys through with that farm bridge assistance you've provided has been critical [2:09:16] any additional thoughts on that well i know we're we have the three of us continue this conversation [2:09:23] uh you you two up there and and me and how important this is and the good news is you know [2:09:29] aside from what senator uh jim doomsday justice outlined for us a minute ago aside from that the good [2:09:35] news is with these 19 new trade deals surging exports we're bringing input costs down once this [2:09:40] iranian conflict is over i mean fuel was down 50 fertilizer was down 50 labor was down [2:09:46] 46 and that's just in the first year of this administration and you marry that to the make [2:09:51] america healthy again movement and putting real food back in the middle of our policy making [2:09:56] the the people that will benefit the most other than americans eating better and health [2:10:00] is is our farmers and ranchers so i am very bullish on the future but that farmer bridge assistance was [2:10:05] just that it was a bridge and we've talked about this at length these farmers don't want government [2:10:10] checks they want to sell their goods and make a decent living which they have not been able to [2:10:15] do for some time but i do believe we're making the right moves to get there the last thing i want to [2:10:20] bring up and i beg the chairman's indulgence here but uh i'll finish with this i talked to uh ustr [2:10:25] jameson greer who i think is incredibly capable along with scott best and and and i believe the trump [2:10:32] that trump administration is working very hard to get us access to foreign markets that was a conversation [2:10:37] with jameson greer he talked about additional 17 billion dollars in chinese sales and of course [2:10:45] chairman xi is coming over here in september and i i really think that that that is going to again [2:10:53] kick up more of these sales that we want in these foreign markets and that's very very important [2:10:59] but in addition to that we have to make sure as part of america first we're forcing you know our [2:11:05] uh trading partners around the country to play fair we need free and fair trade but they're taking [2:11:13] advantage of us and they have been taking advantage of us for a long darn time and so i'll give you an [2:11:19] example right now is that we need a 301 investigation on sugar brazil and other countries are absolutely [2:11:27] dumping and uh and taking other actions against our producers and our sugar industry is up against it [2:11:32] they're in a in tough shape ndsu reported about 1.8 billion in losses over recent years because of [2:11:39] that so we need to have a 301 investigation on sugar and we need to adjust that tier two tariff last time [2:11:46] it was done year 2000 now bozer and i've been around for a while but i'm not even you know you were very [2:11:52] very young then uh still young uh but that's 20 over 25 years this needs to be addressed we do have to make [2:12:02] our trading partners play fair agreed i would welcome your thoughts yeah one quick thought on that and [2:12:08] i agree with you i i've not sure i've ever worked with anyone as capable as ambassador greer is he's a [2:12:14] he's been an incredible partner we don't agree on everything but we agree on most things and he's been [2:12:19] incredible in 2023 i believe for the first time in american history we became a net importer of food [2:12:26] instead of a net exporter the fact that brazil has taken our markets in corn uh soybean uh all kinds of [2:12:35] beef all kinds of other things is really really disturbing and that's on top of china and other [2:12:41] countries that we have to be able to solve for this for national security reasons and uh and that's how [2:12:47] important i think this is i agree thank you madam secretary appreciate you and your and your team as [2:12:51] well yeah they're the best they're the best senator warnock thank you brother chairman and uh good to [2:12:57] see you again you too secretary rollins uh i've heard you say that we're entering the quote golden age of [2:13:04] american agriculture i i have to tell you that that statement could not be further from what i'm hearing [2:13:12] from farmers and from families all across georgia georgia farmers are telling me that they continue to [2:13:19] high cost costs exacerbated by president trump's war in iran and his tariffs which is a tax on all of us [2:13:28] on virtually everything secretary rollins last week the administration did lower its tariffs on farm [2:13:34] equipment by 10 percent i think that's a good move it's a start i'm afraid that it might be a little too [2:13:42] late um and a bit too little was this action an acknowledgement by the trump administration [2:13:51] that its tariffs have increased the cost of farming so i really appreciate the question i think the [2:13:58] president um as our chief negotiator is constantly uh tweaking but what i will say and i realize you [2:14:04] and i could have a much longer conversation about this that the very tariffs that you're speaking of have [2:14:10] instituted or led to the 19 new trade deals that we've implemented we're going to have higher corn [2:14:16] exports higher ethanol exports higher tree nut exports higher dairy exports then practically in [2:14:22] american history so we're cutting that 50 billion dollar agricultural trade deficit in half that [2:14:27] we inherited a year and a half ago and for the farmers nothing's more important than that market access [2:14:33] has it increased the cost of farming you're you're forecasting what you think will be the result [2:14:38] but has it increased the cost of farming well again uh the cost of fertilizer was up almost a hundred [2:14:44] percent in the in the what we inherited the cost of doing business on average i won't go through [2:14:48] all the numbers we don't have time but on average what we inherited was a 50 percent input cost so [2:14:54] working we brought all of that down as to the farm equipment uh i think the president is very focused on [2:15:01] what can we do to get our farmers to profitability it's a national security issue so if by removing [2:15:06] certain barriers we can bring down the cost just a little bit then that's a big win for everyone what he [2:15:12] has said though is that what he doesn't want to see happening is the equipment manufacturers pocketing [2:15:17] that extra dollar which a lot argued would actually be the result that the farmers themselves would not [2:15:23] see it so as part of that announcement it was to make sure the farmers got that that benefit not the [2:15:28] biggest guys so according to farm policy news the president's tariffs have increased input costs by [2:15:36] one billion dollars for farmers while erasing billions in access to export markets markets that [2:15:42] you you're saying are going to come online and farmers just hold on a little while they're struggling [2:15:47] they are struggling right now there's no question about it i talk to them all the time since the [2:15:52] supreme court struck down the president's illegal tariffs giant corporations have lined up to receive [2:15:58] tariff refunds madam secretary are you pushing in cabinet meetings for farmers to also be reimbursed [2:16:06] for the billions and tariff taxes that were passed on to them well again the tariff taxes passed on to [2:16:13] them they we now other than a 50 billion dollar ag trade deficit we've cut that in half so we've [2:16:19] opened up 20 plus billion dollars in additional sales for our farmers under this trade negotiation these [2:16:26] big corporations though they're lining up and they're getting reimbursed i'm asking i'll be happy to look [2:16:30] into that i'm actually i think that's i'll talk to secretary lutnik i'm not familiar with all the [2:16:35] corporations lining up but i will look into that senator all right so so and and it's not just the [2:16:40] tariffs and and you know you've been to you know you and i've talked before and i'm i'm you know trying [2:16:47] to make sure that i'm doing everything i can for farmers and families in georgia so concerned about [2:16:52] the ways in which that they're struggling it's planting season and it's a business as you know where [2:16:59] the margins are narrow to begin with and you know there's not there's so many things that they don't [2:17:06] control and so these margins become really important when you're talking about tariffs [2:17:14] but it's not just the tariffs the strait of her moose has been closed now for over 100 days [2:17:19] and president trump's war in iran has destabilized international fertilizer and fuel markets skyrocketing [2:17:26] costs right in the middle of planting season is administration planning to ask congress for more [2:17:32] taxpayer dollar more taxpayer money to aid farmers so that they can afford the cost of this war [2:17:41] well the the war the worst so i i know what you're asking so yes let me respond to that directly [2:17:46] and and specifically fertilizer and diesel fuel have been the two i think that we've seen significant [2:17:52] increase in costs since the uh strait was closed but what i think is important that uh the fertilizer [2:17:58] costs that were inherited increased almost 100 percent that had come down 50 percent before the [2:18:03] iranian conflict um the costs went back up with the straight of hormones closing those costs are still [2:18:08] lower than the high peak of the biden years for fertilizer having said that there's still tremendous [2:18:14] amount to work by the way that's the same for diesel fuel as well it come down 50 percent uh iranian [2:18:19] conflict happened it popped up but still lower than during the biden years but but yes opening up [2:18:24] the markets reshoring fertilizer back to america in in two or three weeks we're going to break ground [2:18:29] in louisiana on what will be the largest fertilizer plant in the world so in the last couple decades let [2:18:35] me just point out let me just let me just point out because it's it's really important uh that that [2:18:41] context matters i agree that the high peak of the fertilizer calls we're in the middle of a pandemic which [2:18:47] you know we didn't have any control over it it's one thing to have high fertilizer costs uh because [2:18:51] of those kinds of extraneous circumstances uh the president took us into a war of choice which blocked [2:18:58] the the uh straight of her moose and as a result of that farmers in georgia are struggling with both [2:19:04] increased uh fuel and increased uh fertilizer costs um but it's not just farmers that i'm concerned about [2:19:14] i'm also concerned about georgia families according to the usda grocery costs increased about three [2:19:21] percent in the last year and expected to increase by another 3.2 percent this year and at the same [2:19:27] time this administration has celebrated kicking 3.5 million americans including children off snap [2:19:35] a program designed to help our most vulnerable neighbors afford groceries when times are rough and [2:19:41] those neighbors by the way are disproportionately in red rural districts those communities are [2:19:47] struggling you've supported aid packages for farmers hurt by trump's policies would you also support a [2:19:53] food aid package for working families who are just struggling to afford groceries due to increased costs [2:20:01] so senator the three percent um is actually an average cost of food increase over the years under the [2:20:07] last administration went up 20 percent but the snap i think is really do you realize madam secretary [2:20:11] with all due respect how sterile that answer sounds for the person who's just who's trying [2:20:17] you say well you know that's the mean cost but right now somebody's trying to buy groceries in georgia [2:20:22] they can't afford it well but that's because of the biden administration is the reason two years [2:20:26] later that's your answer because of the biden administration look at this look at all the prices [2:20:30] that have come down avocados down 20 berries down 13 butter down 13 eggs down 90 grocery grocery costs [2:20:38] are up you you don't dispute that right even as you call these individual items you don't dispute that [2:20:44] grocery costs are up the affordability question in america is real and the work to bring those costs [2:20:50] down continue and within one year the costs have significantly come down with a few outliers coffee [2:20:56] beef etc but on the snap program sir no one no one in washington or in america wants to see a family [2:21:04] go hungry but the 40 increase in snap under the last administration the four you said 3.5 it's [2:21:11] actually 4.3 million that have moved off of snap no one was kicked off we have more people working [2:21:17] today than ever before this is a celebration of work and the dignity of work and wages are higher than [2:21:23] they've ever been before no one has been kicked off if they're not on the snap program they have chosen [2:21:28] chosen not to reapply or they're an able-bodied adult that can either work for 20 hours a week or [2:21:34] volunteer those are the only requirements anyone with small children is not not eligible there there [2:21:41] there there are wages you say you say are going up the costs are certainly going up health care [2:21:49] has been doubled from millions of americans and they're having to figure out how to make their lives [2:21:54] work in the midst of this many of them choosing between food and health care will you reinstate [2:21:59] the 500 million dollars in funds for food banks the trump administration canceled last year or do you [2:22:05] have an alternate plan to help uh to keep their uh their stocks their shelves stocked listen we have [2:22:11] moved out i think a couple of billion dollars into the into the pantries in the last year and a half [2:22:16] i know secretary rubio said the government is not a charity we spend 400 million dollars a day [2:22:22] on nutrition programs just out of usda there is so much money in the system so much taxpayer dollar [2:22:29] and that's just the federal usda nutrition programs that's not state or local we've got to figure out [2:22:35] how to do it better we've got to figure out how to get it to the people who really need it the georgians [2:22:38] as you say and all across the country and that's what we're working to do i i would respectfully disagree [2:22:45] with your characterization of regarding snap uh there are a lot of children all across georgia who are [2:22:51] suffering families trying to put it together and um i think we can do better than that but thank you [2:22:57] so much children they're they're available so i i appreciate that too and i appreciate the opportunity [2:23:01] to actually have a civil conversation about it of course thank you thank you sir thank you uh senator [2:23:07] grassley i don't think i'll need 10 minutes to get through this you get to use whatever time you want [2:23:15] thanks for being a spokesman spokeswoman for family farmer i appreciate that it wouldn't surprise you [2:23:25] if i was talking about e15 my i'm shocked my purpose isn't to put you on the spot my purpose is to get [2:23:33] some things on the record from somebody other than the oil and uh ethanol business uh so we can refute some [2:23:44] of the uh lies that are going on about e15 does the trump administration support legislation for a [2:23:52] year-round sale of e15 nationwide yes the president in a speech he did the first term but then reiterated [2:23:58] in the second term in the great state of iowa a couple of months ago his full and unequivocal support [2:24:04] will year-round e15 boost america's rural economy correct have you heard a figure of e15 [2:24:13] by law that would bring 14 billion dollars back into the farm economy that's what the corn growers [2:24:21] economist has said correct i have heard that okay and will e15 give give consumers a cheaper option [2:24:32] at the gas pump yes it will uh in the midwest it seems to be somewhere between 20 and 40 cents a gallon [2:24:42] and in a in a time where we're working so hard on affordability that becomes even more important [2:24:47] does year-round e15 bolster our national security there is no national security without farm security [2:24:57] this administration for the first time in the history of our country has put agriculture [2:25:01] as part of the national security plan and so yes being able to protect uh those farmers and what e15 means to [2:25:09] them and opening up a domestic market while we're opening up the international market is a priority [2:25:16] epa director zelden testified before another committee in the senate that uh during the eight [2:25:25] years of presidential waiver for e15s no small refineries have ever shut down i do know of any [2:25:33] information about small refineries shutting down because i have not heard of any small refineries [2:25:39] shutting down uh it's been a couple months maybe three months since i talked to you about vaccination [2:25:48] for screw worms uh you may not remember that conversation and i don't expect you to but we [2:25:55] talked about it and you were going to look into it so what's the chances of uh uh use of vaccination [2:26:04] to get us beyond this because when i called you there was no screw worms noticed in the united states [2:26:10] maybe they were here but they weren't verified right so the screw worm is a is a flesh-eating pest [2:26:17] and not a virus or a disease uh but there are so many ways to treat it first we eradicate it with [2:26:23] the sterile fly technology which is what we're building out in america and in and in mexico and [2:26:28] in panama that's the billion plus dollars that we put into uh into the system uh over a year ago to make [2:26:35] sure that that happens there's ivermectin there's feed and treatment to uh to basically which would [2:26:41] probably serve like a vaccination but as far as specific vaccinations now you and i talked about [2:26:46] the vaccination on the hpai when we talked which is the other sort of big challenge to our chickens [2:26:52] and uh and we had a big conversation about that we consider we continue to run that down but the good [2:26:57] news with hpai still a lot to do is that in iowa and other um significant chicken states egg laying [2:27:04] states that the case of hpai has come down almost 60 percent since last year through the use of [2:27:10] biotechnology etc obviously a move toward vaccination and that lane is uh continuing to be discussed [2:27:17] there's a lot of a lot of big different opinions on that so i want to make sure that we get it right the [2:27:22] virus hbii will often uh beat and and jump to humans so that's what we've got to be very careful [2:27:28] of and we're working with partners around the world and seeing what they're doing as well let me give you [2:27:33] some advice that you don't have to respond to in fact i'd rather not have you respond to it but i know [2:27:39] that there are voices in the cabinet that don't like vaccinations and from that standpoint i expect you [2:27:49] to speak for agriculture and not listen to any of those other people that might be trying to convince [2:27:55] you that for the screw worm thing we should be vaccination because they don't know anything about [2:28:01] agriculture and you do and you shouldn't be listening to them and if you're getting pressure from higher [2:28:08] up to do that let me know so i can i can defend you yes i can assure you there there is no pressure but [2:28:17] taking very seriously the vaccination to ensure that it actually works and it doesn't cause the [2:28:25] virus to mutate to then jump to more dairy cattle to beef cattle to other livestock etc and if we move [2:28:32] too fast that's what will happen so while we're bringing the case of hpai down through biosecurity and [2:28:39] through other options therapeutics etc sir please know we are in studying very carefully the potential for [2:28:46] what that could look like as well okay last week your department announced that it would be delaying [2:28:54] the poultry grower payment system and capital improvement systems rule making under the packers [2:29:01] and stockyards act during your confirmation hearing i brought up this rule and the others that were [2:29:08] finalized under the previous administration i said then that the packers and stockyards act is the most [2:29:15] effective tool to make sure that the marketplace works for the american farmers you said you would be [2:29:22] looking forward to working with me to focus on our small family farmers so first of all going back to [2:29:32] your becoming secretary and maybe going back 10 or 15 years i've been involved in trying to help these [2:29:40] poultry farmers not be screwed by the people that they're producing the chickens for so how does this [2:29:48] delay help our small family farmers and does this delay help meat packers more than family farmers [2:29:57] sir obviously that was a biden rule we are very sympathetic i am i know you don't have time but if [2:30:03] you were to dig around you'll you'll see a lot of uh anti-consolidation work from our usda whether it [2:30:11] is a doj investigation into the the big four packers whether it is a investigation into understanding why [2:30:17] a chinese company owns one-fifth of our pork production whether it is an investigation and [2:30:22] movement and action toward investing in smaller processors smaller farmers etc so i i don't it may be [2:30:29] true of other usda secretaries but it sure isn't of me that i'm a defender of of uh of those uh those [2:30:36] actions uh but fully understanding what the challenges are what that rule did and and making [2:30:42] it better is certainly on my list and i look forward to working with you on that but how does the delay [2:30:48] help the small family farmer well can i circle back to you on that i want to get fully up to speed on [2:30:56] exactly why i do know there were some real concerns with the way that the biden team wrote the rule [2:31:02] and there were some real concerns with the profitability and ensuring we are protecting [2:31:06] all american agriculture but uh but let me go back and dig in a little bit more i'll let you do that [2:31:13] because i want to make sure that we consider everything and you should consider everything [2:31:19] but i'll sum this up with by saying that in the usda's notice in the federal register [2:31:26] it said that of the 2800 comments and 225 unique comments quote one large poultry integrator integrator [2:31:39] two meat and poultry trade associations support the delay but the real poultry growers and grower [2:31:47] organizations oppose this proposal my last question will deal with this again fertilizer as other people [2:31:59] brought up uh i'd like to thank you and secretary rollins and the trump administration for all the work [2:32:08] of addressing fertilizer prices it continues to be a top issue uh in iowa from lowering tariffs to [2:32:18] adding phosphate and pot ash to the critical minerals list and more i appreciate all the administration's [2:32:25] doing to provide relief and provide use uh support uh and i hope you support my legislation that would [2:32:34] provide transparency and and i'm sure you do i understand that the department is seeking to hire [2:32:41] and inputs economists to focus on providing insight to farmers on the prices they pay for inputs for [2:32:49] fertilizers inputs and economists uh is the position filled or is it involved in a revolving door well [2:33:00] hopefully i know we've already started interviewing that we're able to uh really bring in a superstar and [2:33:07] build an entire team we have a whole focus in my office on inputs and this is just uh one more step [2:33:13] i think in the right direction is you all work to pass your legislation okay thank you mr chairman thank [2:33:19] you thank you senator thank you senator grassley um i've got to read my thing so i don't leave out again [2:33:33] thank you so much for appearing and i think this was a really good session and i think i think everybody [2:33:41] learned a lot which is what these are all about so we appreciate you being here your insights in [2:33:48] today's hearing and the hearing will remain open hearing record will remain open for five business [2:33:54] days today's hearing is now adjourned thank you mr chairman by the way these are the usda interns [2:34:01] who are so studiously paying attention behind me so very happy to have them very good we appreciate [2:34:08] you guys very much thank you thank you so much senator thank you