E228: Insights on the New Secretary of Agriculture

It has been a hectic eight weeks in Washington since the re-election of Donald Trump. There has been a non-stop torrent of news that will, and is already, affecting American agriculture, from disaster aid to Farm Bill updates to the nomination of Secretaries of Agriculture, the EPA, FDA, and others. Luckily, we’re joined today by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who’s been staying on top of all the news to bring us the very latest. He’s fresh off the confirmation hearing for Brooke Rollins, the nominee to be Secretary of Agriculture, and he brings us reactions from farm trade groups and the wider agriculture community. He’ll also break down the most recent scuttlebutt on a range of issues, including the possibility of trade tariffs, and what the Trump administration might do for farmers to dampen the blow of likely retaliation. We’ll also check in on the impact of deportations on ag labor, and dig into what may lay ahead for the world of biofuels, from support at USDA and EPA to possible changes at Commerce to critical biofuel tax credits. We’ll also hear the latest about the Farm Bill, and why, despite the fact of Republican majorities in both chambers, we might be no closer to a measure in 2025.Then we’ll check in on questions around Trump's promised Trump tax reforms, RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda, and what to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead.