Secretary Rollins Leads Trade Delegation to United Kingdom, Kicks Off Aggressive Travel Agenda to Promote American Agriculture Worldwide
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will visit the United Kingdom May 12-14. This comes after President Donald J. Trump announced today, on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, a new trade agreement in principle that will lower tariffs, remove trade barriers, increase market access, and strengthen cooperation on economic security. The President secured major wins for American agriculture. This deal provides significant expansion in U.S. market access in the UK, creating a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. stakeholders, including U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers.
“President Trump has made a historic deal with the UK that secures increased access for American agricultural products, including unprecedented access for American beef and ethanol. The President’s trade strategy is working. We are working every day to increase American economic exceptionalism and that includes selling the bounty of American agriculture around the world,” said Secretary Rollins. “I am traveling to the UK next week on my first foreign mission to meet with my counterparts and discuss the commitments of this deal. Our strong cultural and political ties between our countries have led to incredible economic prosperity. It is our goal to achieve even closer relations, and we are thankful for a deal that benefits both countries and gives American farmers, ranchers, foresters, and food processors better access to the UK market and the ability to compete for this business.”
Secretary Rollins will meet with senior UK government officials, visit facilities importing US agricultural products, and hear from U.S. cooperators and UK importers on how the Administration can best position U.S. agricultural products in this important and high value market.
Following Secretary Rollins’ trip to the UK in May, she will travel to Japan, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Italy, and India over the next five months. Other USDA Trade Missions this year include Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mexico.
United Kingdom: The UK is the United States’ fourteenth largest agricultural export market. U.S. producers face disproportionately high tariffs and small tariff rate quota volumes, and unjustified non-tariff barriers when exporting to the UK.
India: The United States is India’s sixth largest supplier of agricultural products. The U.S. has a $1.3 billion agricultural trade deficit with India.
Brazil: The United States has a $7 billion agricultural trade deficit with Brazil.
Japan: Japan is a top five market for many key U.S. commodities, including corn, beef, pork, wheat, rice, and soybeans.
Vietnam: Vietnam is the United States’ tenth largest agricultural export market. The U.S. has no trade agreement with Vietnam while major competitors like China do.
Peru: Peru is the United States’ third largest South American market for agricultural exports, and the U.S. remains Peru’s second largest agricultural supplier. Key prospects for U.S. agricultural exports to Peru include ethanol, dairy products, meat, tree nuts, and pulses.
Italy: American farmers and ranchers face a number of arbitrary non-tariff barriers that prevent larger export opportunities to Italy.
Secretary Rollins has made it a top priority to advocate on behalf of American agriculture. This means increasing access for American products in existing markets, opening new markets with strong demand for our products, and making sure trading partners are treating American farmers, ranchers, and producers fairly. This comes after four years of inaction by the Biden Administration that caused agriculture to go from a trade surplus under President Trump, to a significant trade deficit under President Biden.
Rep. Flood: U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal Expands Trade Opportunities for Nebraska
U.S. Congressman Mike Flood issued a statement following news that U.S. President Donald J. Trump had secured a trade deal with the United Kingdom.
“Over the last four years, President Biden did nothing on trade. Within a matter of months, President Trump’s dealmaking experience resulted in a trade deal with the United Kingdom, one of our country’s oldest allies. From manufacturing pharmaceuticals to the hospitality industry, British companies create thousands of jobs in Nebraska across different sectors. A trade deal with the U.K. can also help create more great paying jobs here and open markets for our agricultural products, including our high-quality Nebraska beef. I look forward to learning more as details are hammered out in the coming weeks.”
Smith Statement on Trade Agreement with the UK
Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after President Trump announced a trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom.
"I’m pleased the Trump administration has struck an initial trade deal with one of our nation's greatest trade partners and longest-standing allies. This is a significant step toward eliminating barriers to American products in foreign markets and friendshoring supply chains. I commend President Trump and his administration for conducting negotiations swiftly to the mutual benefit of our producers, job creators, and consumers. This agreement builds upon the groundwork laid in the President’s first term, and I am pleased the administration has indicated it continues to pursue dynamic dialogue with the United Kingdom to address additional concerns."
Gov. Pillen Provides Statement on UK Trade Deal
Governor Jim Pillen, a strong advocate for Nebraska agriculture and trade, released the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a new trade deal with the United Kingdom (U.K.).
“Trade matters to Nebraska because our farmers and ranchers produce the absolute best – and feed the world,” said Gov. Pillen. “America’s relationship with the U.K. is longstanding, and there is great potential for expanded trade between our countries. President Trump and his administration know that we need more trade with fewer barriers, and they are working around the clock to finalize trade deals with partners across the globe. That’s good news for Nebraska.”
During the press conference, President Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick highlighted the role American beef and ethanol will play in the deal.
Naig Encouraged by President Trump’s Trade Announcement with the United Kingdom
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement today after President Donald Trump and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer jointly announced the framework for a bilateral trade deal between the two countries:
“A new trade deal with a key ally like the United Kingdom is great news and so I am very encouraged by President Trump’s announcement today. I am particularly pleased to hear the President tout expanded market access for ethanol, beef, and, as he put it, ‘virtually all the products produced by our great farmers’. Secretary Rollins and other negotiators will be working diligently to finalize the specific details in the coming weeks, and I'm hopeful that a final deal will address many of the non-tariff barriers that have continually kept some American products out of the United Kingdom.
I visited the United Kingdom as part of a trade delegation in November 2023, and we have hosted many officials from the United Kingdom in Iowa over the past few years, including at the Iowa State Fair, to discuss ag trade opportunities. Today’s trade announcement demonstrates that there is real progress being made toward opening additional markets for Iowa products across the globe. I hope this deal is the first of many that will be announced with other trading partners in the coming weeks and months.”
NCGA Expresses Support for UK Trade Agreement
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today praised a new bilateral trade agreement that increases access for American agricultural products to the United Kingdom, including ethanol. The agreement was announced by President Donald Trump at a morning press conference at the White House.
“This is great news,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “We applaud President Trump and his administration for brokering this deal, and we encourage them to continue to include corn, corn ethanol and corn co-products in future bilateral agreements with other countries.”
During the announcement, Trump officials indicated that tariffs on U.S. ethanol will be reduced to zero. According to the White House fact sheet, this covers $700 million worth of U.S. ethanol exports.
NCGA had previously asked the Trump administration for increased ethanol access in the United Kingdom. The country is currently the second largest destination for U.S. ethanol exports, taking in 244 million gallons, which is 12.7% of the total U.S. ethanol exports for 2024. Ethanol exports to the UK have steadily increased since 2021.
President Trump Secures Trade Win for America’s Cattle Producers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for President Donald Trump’s trade agreement-in-principle with the United Kingdom (U.K.). Most importantly, the agreement includes market access for beef. This announcement follows years of NCBA’s hard work building the foundation for a trade deal with the U.K., including numerous meetings with British industry stakeholders, Members of Parliament, the British Embassy, the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and other top British authorities.
“With this trade deal, President Trump has delivered a tremendous win for American family farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman. “For years, American cattle producers have seen the United Kingdom as an ideal partner for trade. Between our countries’ shared history, culture, and their desire for high-quality American beef, securing a trade agreement is a natural step forward. Thank you President Trump for fighting for American cattle producers.”
NCBA has spent years advocating for expanded trade with the U.K. When the U.K. left the European Union in 2020, that opened the door to secure trade agreements with countries like the United States. British and American cattle producers share similar values and British consumers also enjoy American beef.
Background
For the past few years, NCBA members have participated in several meetings both domestically and abroad with senior British government officials to educate them on our production practices and the unique attributes of our product. In 2022, the British Ambassador to the U.S., Dame Karen Pierce, attended the 2022 CattleCon and spoke to attendees about the importance of strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and U.K. Last year, NCBA hosted a U.S. versus U.K. “Battle of the Beef” event in collaboration with the British Embassy. This lighthearted event brought top U.S. and U.K. officials—including the British Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, U.S. Chief Agricultural Negotiator, President of the U.K. National Farmers Union, and numerous members of Congress—together to talk about the mutual benefits of American and British trade. In March 2025, NCBA member Robby Kirkland reiterated that message when he testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in a congressional hearing on trade. NCBA also recently met with current British Ambassador Peter Mandelson.
Farm Bureau Encouraged by U.K. Trade Deal
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the announced trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom.
“Farm Bureau appreciates the work between the administration and the United Kingdom to secure a new trade agreement. We have long advocated for new trade deals, and this is an important first step in expanding markets in the four countries. More work is needed, however, to remove the arbitrary barriers that have excluded American-grown food from grocery stores in the U.K.
“America’s farmers and ranchers grow the safest and most affordable food in the world. We’re encouraged by progress to create market opportunities for farmers. We urge the administration to build on this success to pursue more trade agreements, and resolve current disputes, so farmers can continue to feed families here at home and overseas.”
USDA SEEKS FEEDBACK FROM PRODUCERS ABOUT 2025 CROPS AND STOCKS
During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the June Agricultural Survey. The agency will contact producers across Nebraska to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2025.
“The June Agricultural Survey is a critical survey of commodities for the 2025 growing season,” said NASS’ Northern Plains Regional Director, Nicholas Streff. “When growers respond to this survey, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2025 crop year. Results from this survey are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, businesses, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others who use the survey information in making a wide range of decisions that benefit the producer.”
Growers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops, and grain stocks.
“NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents by keeping all individual information confidential, and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Streff. “We recognize that this is a hectic time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge them to respond to the June Agricultural Survey and thank them for their cooperation.”
NASS will analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports, to be released June 30, 2025. The survey data also contribute to NASS’ monthly and annual Crop Production reports, the annual Small Grains Summary, and USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
These and all NASS reports are available at nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS Nebraska Field Office at 800-582-6443.
Nebraska Farm Bureau wins award for National Ag Week campaign
The Nebraska Farm Bureau earned national recognition for excellence in communications, taking home the award for Best Public Relations Campaign at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 2025 Communications Awards. The honor was announced during the AFBF Communications Conference held in Kansas City, Missouri.
Nebraska’s winning entry centered around a comprehensive National Agriculture Week Resource Kit, designed to help county Farm Bureaus across the state celebrate Ag Week, March 16–22, 2025. The campaign was developed by Abby Durheim, Kenzie White, Oscar Diaz, and Devan Kirkpatrick.
The resource kit made Ag Week planning and promotion easy by providing ready-to-use materials for communities to engage with agriculture in meaningful ways. It included:
- Bookmarks with agriculture facts for schools and libraries
- Youth placemats and coloring pages to encourage local contests
- A table tent for restaurant displays
- The lesson plan “Many Hats in Agriculture”
- A commemorative 2025 National Agriculture Week shirt
County Farm Bureaus could request up to 300 printed materials at no cost, with additional copies available for a nominal fee. The materials were shipped in advance of Ag Week, with ordering coordinated through the Foundation.
The entry stood out among nearly 200 submitted by state Farm Bureaus across the country. Nebraska was one of only two states to receive the top recognition in the public relations category, alongside Illinois.
The AFBF Communications Awards celebrate outstanding work across 17 categories - including writing, video, social media, and more. Awards are divided by membership size to ensure fair comparisons among states.
In total, 16 states received honors in this year’s contest
SPRING TURN-OUT TO PASTURE
- Jerry Volesky, NE Extenson Pasture & Forage Specialist
The time for turn out to our primary summer pastures is coming soon. A couple of important questions are what date to turn out, and which pastures should be first?
The driving factors on the amount of grass growth at a specific date varies each year depending on spring temperatures and precipitation. March and April temperatures were above normal for most parts of Nebraska. This spring, nearly all of the state is abnormally dry or in some level of drought. During drought, delaying turn out, if possible, is recommended. This will allow the grass plants to maximize growth given the current soil moisture conditions, and result in greater season-long production.
For mixed cool- and warm-season native grass pastures, it is important to allow the cool-season grasses to reach at least a 3- to 4-leaf stage. Initial grass growth in the spring comes from energy reserves stored in the roots and crowns of the grass plant. Grazing too soon could cause a depletion of those reserves and reduce production because there was not enough leaf area present to adequately begin producing energy from photosynthesis.
When grazing multiple native grass pastures in a rotation, it is beneficial to change the sequence or order of grazing for the set of pastures. This change in the time of grazing each year benefits the overall health and vigor of the grasses. For producers that have both native range and introduced grass pasture such as smooth bromegrass or crested wheatgrass, grazing the introduced grass pastures first is a great approach to use that resource and allows for a later turn-out on the native pastures.
Nominations Open for 2025 Women Impacting Agriculture Recognition
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Women in Ag Program has opened nominations for the annual Women Impacting Agriculture recognition. This honor celebrates women across Iowa who have made significant contributions to the agricultural industry and their communities.
The Women Impacting Agriculture recognition highlights women who demonstrate leadership, innovation and a passion for the future of agriculture. Nominees may be involved in production agriculture, agribusiness, education, conservation, policy or advocacy. Their impact can be felt through their work on farms, inOn of four Women Impacting Agriculture honorees, Chris Cornelius and her family classrooms and boardrooms, and across the broader agricultural landscape.
"We are excited to celebrate the dedication, leadership and resilience of women who are shaping the future of agriculture in Iowa," said Madeline Schultz, program manager, ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Program. "Their stories inspire others and reflect the important role women play in sustaining and growing the agricultural economy."
Nomination Details
Nominations are open now through May 31.
Anyone may nominate a deserving woman by completing a brief nomination form.
The form asks for information about the nominee’s leadership, impact and contributions to agriculture.
To nominate a woman who is making a difference in agriculture, visit Women Impacting Agriculture https://www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/women-impacting-agriculture.
Honorees will be recognized during the 9th Annual Women in Ag Leadership Conference at the Gateway Hotel and Convention Center in Ames on Dec. 3-4.
For more information about the Women in Ag Program or the Women Impacting Agriculture nomination, please contact Madeline Schultz at schultz@iastate.edu or 515-294-0588 or visit the Women in Ag website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/.
ASA Appreciates USDA Expediting Disaster Aid
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans this week to expedite $21 billion in disaster assistance to aid farmers and ranchers across the country following several natural disasters.
Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, Rollins announced that the online portal allowing farmers to apply for disaster assistance will be launched on the USDA website by the end of May. The program will be funded by the American Relief Act, which passed through Congress in December 2024. Program funds total approximately $21 billion.
Rollins underscored the complexity of distributing disaster aid as cause for the delay, noting that it involves negotiating agreements with individual state governments tasked with delivering the funds. She explained that this process is significantly more intricate than the distribution of the $10 billion in market-related assistance previously provided through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program.
ASA President Caleb Ragland, a soybean grower from Kentucky, said, “ASA appreciates USDA’s continuous work to coordinate the distribution of disaster assistance that will help restore some stability to rural communities that have endured devastating hurricanes, floods, fires and other natural disasters.”
NAWG Welcomes Update on USDA Disaster Aid
This week, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled her plans and timeline for rolling out the nearly $21 billion in disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers, which was authorized on December 21, 2024.
The announcement comes on the heels of the timely rollout of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), which provided $10 billion in much-needed economic assistance for farmers nationwide. As of Monday, over $7.3 billion in critical aid was disbursed to farmers across the United States, including over $933 million for wheat farmers.
“NAWG appreciates Secretary Rollins and her USDA team's hard work in rolling out ECAP earlier this spring and for working hard to get the disaster assistance pieces rolled out. We understand the long hours that go into standing up any disaster program, and this one is no different. Farmers from across the country have endured a host of natural disasters--in addition to economic challenges--and we appreciate the clear timeline for implementation,” said Pat Clements, NAWG President.
NCGA Encourages Trump to Include Corn in Bilateral Trade Agreement with India
The president of the National Corn Growers Association said today that his organization fully supports the Trump administration’s effort to forge a new trade relationship with India, and corn growers urge the administration to include corn and corn co-products, such as ethanol and its byproducts, in any final agreement with the South Asian country.
The comments came during an online press conference as the organization released data showing India would be a valuable market for the nation’s corn growers and benefit rural America should the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to open the market to American goods prove effective.
“We applaud the Trump administration for the trade outreach it is conducting with India, and we will advocate over the next few months to encourage the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to include American corn exports in any new trade agreement it makes with the country,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “Building a more level playing field for all American products to access global markets is exactly what corn growers need, especially as we face a projected third consecutive year of negative returns.”
Hartman added that the organization will continue working directly with the Trump administration and with the media to highlight how beneficial an agreement with India would be for the nation’s corn growers.
The Trump administration has made India the initial focus of its efforts to open new markets for U.S. exports. During a CNN interview in early April, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called out India for its barriers to accepting corn from the United States.
India’s restrictions on genetically modified corn have blocked access for American corn imports, as 94% of American corn is genetically modified. India also imposes technical restrictions that prevent access for distiller dried grains with solubles, a byproduct from ethanol production used in animal feed, and limits U.S. ethanol imports. India’s stance puts U.S farmers at a distinct disadvantage and addressing these barriers would benefit American farmers.
If the Indian government were to drop its restrictions on genetically modified corn, it could open the door to $235 million worth of U.S. exports each year, according to data released by NCGA. If the U.S. were able to supply India’s sustainable aviation fuel market, it would represent $434 million opportunity for U.S. corn farmers in the first year of the relationship.
India would also stand to benefit from this arrangement, with greater access to high quality feed and an affordable and more environmentally friendly renewable energy source.
The Trump administration has said it expects to have a framework agreement in place over the next 90 days, and the leaders at NCGA say they are hopeful that the president and his administration can make progress with India that will benefit rural America.
“We know President Trump is excellent at making a deal,” said Hartman. “He’s off to a great start and we want to be a part of the final product.”
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