U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently toured Iowa’s agricultural heartland, including a key visit to a hog operation where she met with leaders from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). The visit brought together top agricultural and political leaders to discuss pressing issues facing the pork industry.
Rollins was joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, U.S. Senators and Representatives including Sen. Joni Ernst, and Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn. Together, the group visited the Manning Family Farm in Waukee—home to Iowa Pork Producers Association President Aaron Juergens and Past President Matt Gent.
During the tour, NPPC President-elect Rob Brenneman and new NPPC board member Trish Cook, both Iowa pork producers, engaged directly with Secretary Rollins to discuss critical issues impacting pork producers nationwide. Key topics included California’s Proposition 12, labor shortages, pork processing line speeds, and the looming impact of trade disruptions.
On trade, Rollins emphasized that USDA is preparing to support producers affected by reciprocal tariffs, which are set to take effect April 5. She noted that measures similar to the 2018 Market Facilitation Program could be deployed to help offset losses from retaliatory duties on U.S. goods.
With Rollins playing a central role in shaping the next Farm Bill and overseeing programs tied to conservation, food safety, animal disease preparedness, and export marketing, her engagement with pork producers signals the importance of aligning federal support with on-the-ground realities in the industry.
As conversations around labor, trade, and regulatory impacts continue to intensify, Rollins’ visit highlights the pork sector’s need for strategic partnerships at all levels of government.
