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Agriculture Secretary-nominee Brooke Rollins assured senators Thursday the Trump administration would provide another round financial aid if farmers are hurt by a trade war sparked by increased tariffs. She offered less assurance to farmers concerned about losing workers due to the administration's planned mass deportations. 

Agriculture Secretary-nominee Brooke Rollins will use her confirmation hearing Thursday to call for "immediately and comprehensively"  containing ongoing animal disease outbreaks, and she will pledge to serve all of agriculture and all Americans, according to her opening statement. 
 

President Donald Trump is doubling down on his assertion that new tariffs could hit next month. He told reporters Tuesday that China may also face new duties on Feb. 1. Meanwhile, U.S. trade partners reiterated that they’re ready to respond quickly and forcefully.

Some are eying a trade deal with China inked during Trump’s first term as a tool to protect farmers from export losses triggered by retaliatory tariffs. But experts argue that absent new negotiations, enforcement options are limited.

Taxpayer support for disaster aid for farmers remains significantly higher than it is for making payments to farmers as compensation for lower prices, and support for trade compensation is increasing, according to a quarterly survey.

Cattle producers are enjoying record prices for steers as they start the year. 

President Donald Trump has wasted little time making news on the trade front. He told reporters Monday night he expects to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico a week from Saturday.

The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general in Minnesota and Illinois on Wednesday sued farm equipment giant John Deere, accusing it of unlawfully limiting farmers’ ability to repair equipment on their own.

Higher prices for eggs helped drive a 0.3% increase in the cost of groceries in December. Beef prices rose 0.5%, while chicken and pork prices were 0.3% higher.

The Agriculture Department has finalized a rule limiting poultry integrators from paying reduced rates to producers through tournament ranking systems while still allowing for bonuses, the agency announced Tuesday.