Trump picks Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins (NYSE:ROL), president of the America First Coverage Institute, to be agriculture secretary.

“As our subsequent Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the hassle to guard American Farmers, who’re actually the spine of our Nation,” Trump mentioned in a press release.

If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person company with places of work in each county within the nation, whose remit contains farm and diet applications, forestry, residence and farm lending, meals security, rural growth, agricultural analysis, commerce and extra. It had a price range of $437.2 billion in 2024.

The nominee’s agenda would carry implications for American diets and wallets, each city and rural. Division of Agriculture officers and employees negotiate commerce offers, information dietary suggestions, examine meat, struggle wildfires and assist rural broadband, amongst different actions.

“Brooke’s dedication to assist the American Farmer, protection of American Meals Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Cities is second to none,” Trump mentioned within the assertion.

The America First Coverage Institute is a right-leaning assume tank whose personnel have labored intently with Trump’s marketing campaign to assist form coverage for his incoming administration. She chaired the Home Coverage Council throughout Trump’s first time period.

As agriculture secretary, Rollins would advise the administration on how and whether or not to implement clear gasoline tax credit for biofuels at a time when the sector is hoping to develop by the manufacturing of sustainable aviation gasoline.

The nominee would additionally information subsequent 12 months’s renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada commerce deal, within the shadow of disputes over Mexico’s try to bar imports of genetically modified corn and Canada’s dairy import quotas.

Trump has mentioned he once more plans to institute sweeping tariffs which might be prone to have an effect on the farm sector.

He was contemplating providing the position to former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, a staunch ally whom he selected to co-chair his inaugural committee, CNN reported on Friday.