Farm Economy-Rollins
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins talked at last week’s Ag Outlook Forum about a farm economy still facing strong headwinds.
Rollins stressed gains for agriculture amid a lackluster 2026 price forecast and trade uncertainty after the Supreme Court struck down the president’s tariffs …
ROLLINS … “Ethanol exports were up 11 percent, dairy exports up about 15 percent, and corn exports last year were up almost 29 percent.”
Helping to narrow the Ag trade gap by almost $9 billion, and a drop in input prices …
ROLLINS … “Altogether, when adjusted for inflation, the average cost of production is going down in 2026, the first decline in more than five years.”
And in a mid-term election year, Rollins talked up last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill …
ROLLINS … “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 dollars a year.”
Giving Ag lawmakers a jump on farm bill work, while USDA works on other steps …
ROLLINS … “USDA is also now beginning the process of adding up to 30 million, 30 million acres to our ARC and PLC programs.”
And pressing Congress for year-round E15 sales.
That, as USDA has just started accepting bridge payment applications.
