The report includes strategies on improving agriculture and cropland.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAmerica\u2019s farmers and ranchers are at the heart of the solution \u2026 to fight chronic disease and protect future generations,\u201d said Rollins in a news release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins spoke at the annual Women in Agriculture conference Sept. 10, 2025, hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, at the SpringHill Suites hotel at the Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth. (Nicole Lopez | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
Financial protections<\/p>\n
The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was a \u201cbig win\u201d for the Department of Agriculture as federal officials have struggled to pass a new \u201cFarm Bill<\/a>\u201d under her administration, Rollins said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Farm Bill, formally known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, aimed to maintain prices for farmers and consumers, secure adequate food supply and protect farmland in response to historical economic and environmental hardship.<\/p>\n Passed in July, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act secured $66 billion in new spending for agriculture<\/a>, expanded crop insurance coverage, increased commodity prices and created tax cuts for farmers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe largest investment in rural America in the history of our country was in that bill,\u201d Rollins told the women at the conference.<\/p>\n Tariffs, foreign producers<\/p>\n The current economy is in the most dire state farmers have experienced in almost 50 years, Rollins said, citing decreased value in crops traded outside of the United States, including corn, wheat and soybean.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trade conflict<\/a> between the United States and China over tariffs on the crop trio is driving lower exports and fewer foreign market demands, according to a report from Reuters.<\/p>\n Additionally, Rollins wants to implement more national security into the agricultural workforce.\u00a0<\/p>\n About 40 years ago, Chinese companies owned roughly 2,000 acres of farmland in the country, she said. Today, investors from China<\/a> now own about 300,000 acres<\/a> of American farmland, Rollins added.\u00a0<\/p>\n Foreign companies operating on farmland creates challenges for the agriculture industry and national security, Rollins said. A new Texas law<\/a> went into effect this month banning some foreign entities and individuals \u2014 including those from China \u2014 from certain land purchases.<\/p>\n Immediately following her panel, Rollins said she was on way to Washington, D.C., where she planned to speak with President Donald Trump on how to resolve issues on foreign trade.<\/p>\n New World screwworm\u00a0<\/p>\n Federal leaders are on a $1 billion-facility that would contain the New World screwworm outbreak, Rollins said.<\/p>\n The New World screwworm is a parasite that attacks livestock, pets and wildlife by burrowing into the flesh of a living animal. Infestation by the fly is often deadly to animals, posing a threat to those in the agriculture and ranching industries.<\/p>\n Additionally, the Department of Agriculture announced a partnership<\/a> Aug. 15 with several other federal agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, prioritizing animal drug development, prevention and other technologies to combat the pest.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Trump is fully in support and understands the importance of protecting our livestock in America,\u201d Rollins said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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