U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins joined Senator John Hoeven, who serves as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, Governor Kelly Armstrong, and North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture Doug Goehring for a visit to North Dakota. During the trip, Secretary Rollins got direct feedback from the state’s farmers as work proceeds on the next farm bill, learned firsthand about North Dakota’s leadership in precision agriculture technologies, and toured American Crystal Sugar.
“North Dakota is rich in agriculture. Wheat, potato, sugar beet, and cattle farmers in the state are driving innovation and continuing the long legacy of feeding, fueling, and clothing the world. It was great to see the next generation of agricultural leaders and ingenuity of American agriculture at North Dakota State University. I look forward to continuing to work with leaders like Senator Hoeven, Congresswoman Fedorchak, and Governor Armstrong and hear from farmers in North Dakota as we put Farmers First at USDA,” said Secretary Rollins.
“North Dakota is an ag powerhouse today, and we’re making sure that, through innovation and good farm policy, our leadership in this vital sector continues to grow, ”said Senator Hoeven. “I appreciate Secretary Rollins for accepting my invite to meet with our state’s farmers and ranchers right here in North Dakota and learn more about our region’s specific needs and priorities. Farming isn’t a monolith. If we want to keep our network of small family farms, we have to ensure the farm safety net actually works when it is needed most and in the wide variety of circumstances our producers face. At the same time, we are supporting our innovators through institutions like NDSU and Grand Farm in bringing new technologies to market that will help producers reduce their costs, stay competitive and continue providing the low-cost, high-quality food supply that all of America relies on every single day.”
“Today was an incredible opportunity to show Secretary Rollins how North Dakota is leading the way—not just in growing the crops that feed and fuel the world, but also in developing innovative technology to do it better. We’re problem-solvers in North Dakota, and I hope she walks away with a clear sense of who we are and what we stand for. Secretary Rollins has a true heart for our farmers and producers, and I’m grateful to President Trump for putting leaders like her in place who understand and appreciate rural America,” said Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak.
“North Dakota farmers and ranchers are the best in the world, and we appreciate Secretary Rollins coming to Fargo to hear firsthand about the challenges and opportunities facing our ag producers as they feed and fuel the world,” Governor Armstrong said. “We look forward to working with Secretary Rollins and the entire Trump administration to strengthen U.S. food security, expand markets and restore fairness to international trade relationships, and roll back unnecessary regulations that restrict producers and increase costs for consumers.”
The Trump Administration is working to put Farmers First by delivering aid to states like North Dakota through the USDA Rural Development (RD) Disaster Assistance Fund (DAF). USDA will provide $340.6 million in immediate relief to farmers, ranchers, and small businesses to rebuild and recover from 84 declared disasters across 31 states and territories. This announcement includes $5 million to help rebuild electric infrastructure after severe storms and wildfires in North Dakota. In addition, Secretary Rollins announced today that through September 30th, 2025, imported products containing more than 65% sugar will face additional tariffs on top of duties already applied. This action emphasizes USDA’s commitment to President Trump’s America First Trade Policy, to support American grown sugar in the face of rising imports.
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USDA – 2025
