Attorney General Brenna Bird met with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on March 12 to address issues facing family farmers in Iowa and the role of state attorneys general in protecting agricultural laws.
The discussion focused on several key topics, including foreign ownership of agricultural land, the push for year-round nationwide E15 fuel, rising input costs, and the USDA’s new initiative called One Farmer, One File. The initiative aims to create a single record that follows each farmer throughout the USDA system. According to officials, this project is expected to save time and money for both farmers and taxpayers when it is completed in 2028.
Bird and Rollins agreed that expanding access to E15 fuel year-round would benefit both farmers and consumers. They noted that current oil price fluctuations, influenced by events in Iran, highlight the need for alternatives like E15 to help keep gas prices down for Americans.
During their conversation about economic challenges such as increasing fertilizer costs, Rollins said President Trump’s administration had previously opened up markets for farmers. She contrasted this with what she described as a $50 billion agricultural trade deficit under President Biden’s administration with no new trade deals over four years. Rollins said that in the first year of President Trump’s second term, 18 trade deals have been made.
The two officials also discussed policies regarding foreign ownership of farmland. They emphasized the importance of partnering with states rather than waiting for congressional action on foreign ownership laws. Both Bird and Rollins said they will continue working together to uphold state-level regulations like those in Iowa.
Looking ahead, Bird and Rollins indicated ongoing collaboration between federal agencies and state attorneys general will be important as these issues continue to affect Iowa’s farming community.
