Rep. Dusty Johnson Questions Ag. Secretary Brooke Rollins on Trade, Forestry, and Farm Labor

Key Agricultural Issues Discussed

• 💡 Representative Dusty Johnson thanked Secretary Rollins for providing relief to a South Dakota ranching couple, the Mods, acknowledging the team's common-sense approach.
• ⚠️ High Path Avian Influenza remains a significant threat to both poultry and livestock, with vaccines identified as a crucial long-term solution.
• 🌲 The need for urgent action in forestry management was highlighted, emphasizing that a managed forest is a healthy forest, and the loss of infrastructure like mills can turn forests into tinderboxes.
• 🐄 The "Producers First" program was praised for its responsiveness to South Dakota State University's input, aiming to improve resiliency in feeding and marketing bison and cattle.
• 🧑‍🌾 Dairy producers are experiencing significant anxiety regarding farm labor shortages, with the belief that Secretary Rollins is a critical leader in finding solutions.

Focus on International Trade and Timber Production

• 📈 South Dakota exports nearly $6 billion in agricultural products annually, underscoring the importance of trade for the state's economy and for strengthening America.
• 🌍 Secretary Rollins expressed optimism about international trade, noting a global readiness to recalibrate and believing that an era of unprecedented prosperity for the agricultural community is imminent due to trade renegotiations.
• 🌳 The administration is prioritizing timber production, aiming for a 25% increase to revitalize the timber industry and mitigate against unnecessary fires, with ongoing discussions at the highest levels.
• 🤝 The Secretary acknowledged the challenges faced by farmers and ranchers, assuring that both she and the President understand their precarious operating margins.