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Secretary Rollins highlights new specialty crop research funding, automation investments

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture says the agency is making significant investments in specialty crop research.

Secretary Brooke Rollins says the USDA is releasing funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative and Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

“Together, these two announcements represent an annual $227 million investment into America’s specialty crop producers,” she says.

The USDA is earmarking $20 million in research funding for mechanization and automation technologies.

Rollins tells Brownfield the administration has eliminated ag research supporting a social justice agenda.

“Research that truly puts farmers first remains paramount, it has not been cut,” she explains. “If it has, I’ve asked all these farmers in this Michigan State community and others to let me know. We will ensure it remains a priority.”

Rollins says the sign-up period for specialty crop bridge assistance has been extended in part because of requests made in Michigan.

Farm Service Agency state administrator Joel Johnson tells Brownfield, “Now that we have more time available, hopefully we’ll get some folks that had not expected to be in reporting crops, particularly for the specialty crop industry.”

“It takes a little longer to get all the numbers for everything that happens, but it’ll be good for everyone in the long run,” he shares.

The Trump administration has proposed cutting USDA’s funding by nearly 20 percent in the next fiscal year, including a $16 million reduction for the Economic Research Service and eliminating the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, or SARE.

Rollins made the announcement during a visit to Michigan State University on Monday.