By Jamie Martin
Farmers across the United States are feeling hopeful as American agriculture sees renewed efforts to grow international trade.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins is actively engaging with global partners to support farmers and ranchers by promoting U.S. crops and reducing trade barriers.
During a visit to Rome, Rollins emphasized the importance of selling more American wheat and soybeans to Italy and the European Union. Her visit followed recent agricultural deals with Vietnam and a temporary easing of trade tensions with China.
“We talked about getting more of our soybeans, more of our wheat, more of great products from America into Italy and of course across the EU,” Rollins said. “It is time that we move these products and continue to work on the world stage.”
The Purdue University and CME Group Ag Economy Barometer revealed a strong shift in sentiment among 400 surveyed farmers. The index reached 158, its highest level since 2021. Many farmers expect agricultural exports to grow significantly over the next five years.
However, only 28% of producers strongly believe in the benefits of free trade, compared to 49% back in 2020. This shows that views on trade policies have shifted in recent years.
Secretary Rollins plans to visit more countries, including Japan, Brazil, India, and Ivory Coast. Next week, her agency will lead a trade mission to Peru to address a $3 billion agricultural trade deficit.
Rollins also highlighted a major trade agreement with the United Kingdom, which includes a beef quota and tariff removal on American ethanol.
Her global trade push aims to ensure American farmers can sell their products competitively across the world, bringing strength and stability to U.S. agriculture.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National