Rollins: The 'Golden Age' for American Farmers is 'Around the Corner'

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said recently that the “unease with the current farm economy” many farmers are experiencing is part of President Donald Trump’s larger plan to put America first. She pledged the agricultural outlook would improve as he completes “even more exciting" trade deals.

“These trade renegotiations, opening up the markets, cutting deals, etc. Bangladesh recently announced a massive purchase of wheat from America. We'll have more of those coming soon,” she said during an interview on Fox Business Network. “The golden age for our American farmers is around the corner.” 

“No one has been more supportive or passionate or dedicated to our farmers than President Trump,” Rollins said. She blamed former President Joe Biden for the high cost of farm inputs and an estimated ag trade deficit of $47 billion for fiscal 2025. “Just one thing after another that has hit the farm economy,” she added. 

The Agriculture Department estimated last week that the U.S. agricultural trade deficit would narrow in fiscal 2026 to $41.5 billion despite a projected plunge in sales to China, which has yet to reach a trade deal with Trump.

USDA’s quarterly trade outlook lowered the projected trade deficit for fiscal 2025 to $47 billion from the $49.5 billion estimated in June. The deficit is projected to drop in FY26, which starts October 1, because U.S. ag imports are expected to fall even more than exports decline. 

The estimated deficit for FY26 would still be higher than FY24's $32 billion.

Rollins was also asked about Trump’s plans to address the labor challenges farmers are facing. She said the President is “hyper-focused on fixing this issue” and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is “really working on it.” She described the current H-2A program as “broken” and “unsustainable.”

The Secretary said new tools and ag equipment are helping to ease part of the farm labor situation. “We have automation that is pretty remarkable. That's going to start moving out in a bigger way. We'll have an announcement of that coming soon,” she said. 

Also in the interview, Rollins discussed the national security implications of foreign farmland ownership. “In 1983, China and foreign adversaries owned about 2,000 acres of our farmland. Today, it's almost 300,000 acres that have been purchased by China and other foreign adversaries not friendly to us,” she said. “What's really important about this is so much of that was purchased around our military bases,” she said. 

“So, it's not just preserving the great American farm. It's not just about bringing a golden age to rural America and having real rural prosperity, but it is national security.” 

Chinese investors reported holding 277,336 acres of agricultural land as of December 31st, according to the latest USDA data. This represents less than 1% of all foreign owned-agricultural land.

Investors from Canada, including entities owned entirely by Canadians and by U.S. corporations with Canadian shareholders, hold 15.3 million acres of land, or 33% of all the foreign-owned land reported to USDA. Investors from the Netherlands followed, accounting for 11% of all foreign-held landholdings, while Italy and the United Kingdom each made up 6%.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

In order for the next “Golden Age of Agriculture” to be a reality, the Trump Administration will first need to secure a trade deal with China. The next task will be to “normalize” tariffs with Canada and Mexico, as well as other large trading partners. In addition, securing new overseas markets will be critical to longer term success. The one thing we have going for us currently is the tremendously successful livestock and dairy sectors. They are already in Golden Age territory.

Additional money for trade promotions was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill, but it will take time for those funds to realize true and lasting results.

Agriculture runs in cycles like many other businesses. The current cycle is a mixed bag. However, when ag is once again hitting on all cylinders, watch out! Is the next Golden Age upon us? It is entirely possible and will hopefully occur sooner than later. Never count farmers/ranchers out. Even in the worst of times, they still purchase a lot of trucks!