U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins kicked-off FarmFest in Redwood Falls Tuesday.
Rollins gave an update on key agricultural export markets, saying growth is strong in corn, ethanol, dairy and tree nuts.
She also told the group recent reports of the growing number of farm bankruptcies are "over-inflated" and amount to "clickbait."
"What I am much more worried about is the loss of farms to solar, to wind, to development, and just our farmers who don't think that it's worth giving it, and fighting for the next generation to pass the farm along," says Rollins. "That is a much, much, much, much bigger problem."
Rollins also highlighted what she says is strong growth in some key agricultural export markets, which she says needs to continue.
"It's a national security issue from my perspective," she said. "The minute we begin to rely on other countries for our food supply, our freedom is over. And 2023 was the first year we imported more food than we exported, so we got to get that back."
Wednesday's FarmFest highlights include a governor's forum with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R), Mike Lindell (R) and Kendall Qualls (R). There is also a U.S. Senate forum with Congresswoman Angie Craig D), Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan (D), Michelle Tafoya (R) and Royce White (R).
"What I am much more worried about is the loss of farms to solar, to wind, to development," she said Tuesday
"What I am much more worried about is the loss of farms to solar, to wind, to development," she said Tuesday
