CALDWELL, Texas (KBTX) – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins delivered a stark warning to Texas farmers Friday as she announced two new policy changes aimed at easing their financial strain.
Rollins visited Giesenschlag Farms in Caldwell for a roundtable with local farmers and agricultural leaders before holding a press conference on site.
Visits Giesenschlag Farms in Caldwell for round table discussions and a press conference.(KBTX)
“If we’re not able to reverse this trend of only two of every 10 years our farmers are profitable, then we will continue to lose tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers every year,” Rollins said.
Rollins said she came with solutions, not just warnings. Starting with a fix for cotton farmers who’ve had to gamble on the weather when buying crop insurance.
Currently, cotton farmers can only insure their crop against one weather disaster, either a hurricane or a drought, but not both. Rollins said that will change starting with the 2027 crop year, when USDA’s Risk Management Agency will allow producers to purchase multiple endorsements on a single policy.
“If having to make this decision ahead of time doesn’t drive you to drink, making the wrong decision absolutely will,” said Matt Huey of the South Texas Cotton and Grain Association.
The second announcement addresses a bigger, longer-term problem: in 2023, the United States lost its title as the world’s top cotton exporter to Brazil. Rollins said USDA will now oversee efforts to push countries overseas to buy more American cotton. This included Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia and Malaysia to buy more American cotton.
“This puts us in the right place to where we can make the better decisions to service our growers, our farmers,” said Seth Stevens, general manager of United Ag.
Rollins acknowledged farming costs remain too high but said growers in Caldwell left Friday with two new tools and a message that Washington is listening.
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