Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune questioned Brooke Rollins during her confirmation hearing for the position of Secretary of Agriculture before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Thune emphasized the challenges faced by beginning farmers due to barriers to entry into agriculture. He highlighted a bill he is working on with Senator Klobuchar and stressed the importance of crop insurance as part of the safety net for farmers. "I would encourage you to work with us to find ways to strengthen and fortify the existing safety net programs," Thune said.

Rollins responded by acknowledging the aging demographic of American farmers and expressed her commitment to addressing this issue. She stated, "The average age of the farmer in America is 58 years old. That is not sustainable."

The discussion also touched upon timber harvesting in the Black Hills National Forest. Thune expressed concerns about reduced timber sales affecting local sawmills and communities reliant on forest resources. He criticized current policies, stating, "The Biden administration policies have decimated the timber industry." Rollins assured her commitment to address these issues if confirmed: "You have my full commitment and as much time as I can possibly give."

Thune also reiterated his support for mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef products, emphasizing fairness and transparency for producers. He asked Rollins if she would work towards a WTO-compliant path forward for MCOOL legislation. Rollins affirmed her willingness to collaborate: "Yes, sir. I look forward to that."