OMAHA (DTN) -- Congratulations and reactions continued during the weekend and Monday to President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that he intends to nominate former adviser Brooke Rollins as Agriculture secretary.
Meanwhile, the Trump transition team remains stalled in learning about some of the key issues at USDA and other federal agencies because Trump's team has not signed key ethics documents required under the Presidential Transition Act.
"They can't come into the building, and we can't provide information to them until the documents are signed," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told DTN in an interview Monday. "That's the federal law."
This has effectively led to an early standoff between the White House and Trump's team across the federal government. Vilsack said that he hasn't had a chance to speak with Rollins or anyone else from the Trump transition team.
VILSACK ENCOURAGES SIGNING DOCUMENTS
"We can't talk to anyone from the incoming Trump administration until they've signed the necessary transition documents, but I would certainly, as a practical matter, I would encourage the incoming nominee to reach out and encourage that those papers be signed relatively soon so that she can be fully prepared and the team can be fully prepared for the job that they are undertaking," Vilsack told DTN.
USDA is dealing with multiple challenges involving foreign animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza in both poultry and dairy cows. More than 616 dairy herds have been infected with the H5N1 virus including more than 200 dairy herds in California during the past month. A recall went out during the weekend in California over raw milk products infected with the virus. Now USDA has been informed about New World screwworm (NWS) being detected in Mexico that prompted USDA to close the border to Mexican cattle during the weekend.
"There are some pretty significant animal-health and trade issues that need to be monitored and need to be understood on day one," Vilsack said. "An incoming secretary needs to be aware of and be able to respond to any questions that may come up at any hearing that she may have."
There's also the need to understand the full portfolio under USDA's umbrella. "There's not necessarily always a full appreciation for exactly all USDA does," Vilsack said. "So, it is certainly our hope that eventually those papers get signed as quickly as possible and our team can begin the process of educating folks to the extent they wish to be educated about what they are walking into."
ROLLINS AND AFPI
An attorney, Rollins was a domestic policy adviser to Trump in his first administration.
Since leaving the first Trump administration, Rollins has been president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). a group that has largely championed Trump's views on foreign policy, border security and energy policies. There are a lot of ties between the Trump administration and AFPI, including Department of Education nominee Linda McMahon, who chairs the AFPI board, as well as EPA nominee Lee Zeldin, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, Veterans Affairs nominee Doug Collins, and CIA nominee John Ratcliffe.
AFPI has a list of policy agenda "pillars" but little about agricultural policy. The group has called for banning Chinese ownership of U.S. property.
While advocating for tougher work requirements, one of AFPI's policy statements questioned "means-tested welfare programs" for housing and food assistance, stating they "undermine their anti-poverty rationale when they sharply cut benefits off as household income increases. Policies like these discourage fathers from returning home and penalize all families for taking actions to move up the economic ladder." The group called for reforming policies to help two-parent families.
When it comes to energy, the group's 15-page policy agenda for energy independence focuses on rolling back regulatory requirements on domestic fossil-fuel energy. AFPI does not mention "biofuels" or "ethanol" once. The policy doesn't mention aviation fuel either.
AFPI takes an aggressive stance against renewable energy policies and climate change policies that "only exacerbate the difficulties of providing affordable and reliable energy.
AFPI also questions the Jones Act when it comes to energy policies. "By constraining maritime interstate commerce to American built, owned, and operated vessels, many of these regions are forced to look to foreign, often costlier, suppliers due to a stark lack of availability of Jones Act-compliant vessels," AFPI stated.
The Jones Act, which dates to the end of World War I, has been a long-standing issue when it comes to providing U.S. agricultural commodities for international aid. Groups seeking to repeal the Jones Act say it increases the costs and delays the timeliness of food shipments to countries in crisis.
MORE GROUPS WEIGH IN
Reaction continued to pour in from groups both congratulating Rollins and seeking to educate her about their particular issues.
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said, "We congratulate Ms. Rollins on her nomination as the next USDA secretary and share her vision for boosting America's agriculture sector and rural communities."
"Over the past two decades, renewable fuels like ethanol have stimulated unprecedented economic growth and prosperity in the farm economy and we hope to build upon that success with Ms. Rollins. We look forward to speaking with her about the close ties that bind renewable fuels to our nation's farm communities.
"The ethanol industry is deeply rooted on the American farm, and we are eager to continue our long and successful partnership with the experienced leaders and staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture," Cooper said.
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney said, "NASDA members look forward to working with a leader who is committed to ensuring agriculture leads the way toward a healthy and resilient world."
McKinney, who was among a short list of contenders for Agriculture secretary, added, "As co-regulators with the federal government on environmental, agricultural and food safety policies, NASDA will work with Brooke Rollins to continue seeking innovative opportunities and solutions for our food, fiber and fuel supply."
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said, "From her time as a college student studying agriculture development to her distinguished career in Texas and Washington, Brooke Rollins has a history of fighting for Main Street and rural America. America's cattle producers need a secretary of Agriculture who will protect family farms and ranches, roll back crushing regulations, and stand up for rural values -- and we look forward to working with Secretary-Designate Rollins to make it happen."
American Dairy Coalition CEO Laurie Fischer said, "We look forward to working with the next secretary of Agriculture on ways to reduce redundancies, wasteful spending and improve efficiency so that more of the dollars intended to support farms get to the actual farmers."
"We are encouraged by Rollins' history with the Office of American Innovation in Trump's first term because our farmers are key innovators and lifelong stewards of natural resources. Now more than ever, we need real world application of sound farmer-led policy and innovation to the realities faced by America's farmers and the country they work hard every day to feed," said Fischer.
The American Dairy Coalition is among the groups that have been pressing changes in policy to allow children to drink whole milk and 2% milk in schools.
"Children are only permitted by USDA to have fat-free or 1% low-fat milk, which they often discard," Fischer said.
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) said it "congratulates Brooke Rollins on being nominated to serve as U.S. secretary of Agriculture."
"We look forward to collaborating with Secretary-elect Rollins, pending Senate confirmation, and the Trump administration to strengthen American agriculture by reducing regulatory burdens, expanding market opportunities and addressing the labor challenges that threaten U.S. farmers' competitiveness both domestically and worldwide.
"We especially appreciate the incoming administration's focus on health and are eager to expand access and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to enhance the well-being of all Americans," IFPA said.
USA Rice President and CEO Peter Bachmann highlighted some of the challenges in rice, especially in trade. "Given the economic hardship and trade challenges rice farmers and our broader industry are facing, we look forward to working with Ms. Rollins, if confirmed, to strengthen U.S. agriculture and ensure a prosperous future for rice farmers, millers, and merchants," Bachmann said.
CRITICS OF THE NOMINATION
Critics questioned the nomination. Karen Perry Stillerman, deputy director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said, "Outside of a misdirected interest in Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland, Brooke Rollins appears to have no agricultural policy track record to comment on. Rollins' AFPI, described as the second Trump administration in waiting, has so little interest in farm policy that there are no agriculture experts listed on its website."
Stillerman added, "This appears to be another example of President-elect Trump doling out cabinet appointments for loyalty rather than expertise. Our nation's farmers, food workers, consumers and the public servants at the USDA deserve a secretary who knows and cares about the challenges they face."
Rebecca Riley, managing director for food and agriculture at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said, "The Department of Agriculture plays a pivotal role in safeguarding our food supply, addressing food insecurity, managing our forests, as well as supporting America's farmers and rural communities who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis."
Riley continued, "Rollins needs to invest in America's farmers -- from small family farms to larger-scale operations -- and to work toward a resilient and equitable food system that puts healthy food on the table, restores our soil, protects the climate, and safeguards the health of our communities."
Riley defended some programs initiated under the Biden administration. "Project 2025 targets multiple essential USDA programs, but now is not the time to undermine climate-smart farming practices, favor industrial agriculture at the expense of small producers and consumers, or gut the nutrition programs that many Americans rely on."
Also see "Trump Names Policy Leader Brooke Rollins as Agriculture Secretary in Next Administration" here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….
DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com
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