U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins spoke at last week’s Ag Outlook Forum, describing a farm economy that continues to face significant headwinds. She emphasized agriculture’s recent gains despite a weak 2026 price outlook and ongoing trade uncertainty following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the president’s tariffs.
“Ethanol exports were up 11 percent, dairy exports up about 15 percent, and corn exports last year were up almost 29 percent,” said Rollins.
Helping to narrow the Ag trade gap by almost nine billion dollars, while Rollins claimed a drop in input prices.
“Altogether, when adjusted for inflation, the average cost of production is going down in 2026, the first decline in more than five years,” she said
And in a mid-term election year that historically goes against the president’s party, Rollins talked up last year’sOne Big Beautiful Bill.
“Increased reference prices for the first time in over a decade, crop insurance improvements, enhanced coverage and lower premiums, saving producers an estimated $400 million a year.”
With coverage improvements for new and beginning farmers, permanent death tax exemption for many, and full bonus depreciation and immediate expensing for investments. All of them giving Ag lawmakers a jump on farm bill work, delayed again by an East Coast snowstorm, while USDA works on other steps.
“USDA is also now beginning the process of adding up to 30 million acres to our ARC and PLC programs,” said Rollins.
She added that she and her team are pressing Congress for a legislative fix for permanent year-round E15 sales, while finalizing 45Z and RFS rules to boost feedstock demand.
On Monday, USDA began the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, making $11 billion in one-time bridge payments available to row crop producers and $1 billion to specialty crop producers affected by temporary trade market disruptions and rising production costs. Enrollment will remain open through April 17, 2026.