Secretary Rollins Concludes Day One of United Kingdom Agricultural Trade Delegation, Meets with U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens and U.K. Counterparts

May 14, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins concluded her first day in the United Kingdom during her trade delegation visit. This visit comes after President Donald J. Trump announced last week, on the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe, a historic U.K. trade deal that will lower tariffs, remove trade barriers, increase market access, and strengthen cooperation on economic security.

“American agriculture is the ‘crown jewel’ of our country's exports to global markets. Today, I discussed with government officials, including U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Warren Stephens, Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Rt. Hon. Steve Reed, and Secretary for the Department of Business and Trade Rt. Hon. Jonathan Reynolds, ways we can increase our exports with a country we already have such strong cultural and political ties with. President Trump is putting American Farmers First and that’s why I am in the U.K. working to secure additional access for agricultural products,” said Secretary Rollins.

Secretary Rollins has made it a top priority to advocate on behalf of American agriculture exports. This means increasing access for American products in existing markets, opening new markets with strong demand for our products, and making sure trading partners are treating American farmers, ranchers, and food processors fairly. This comes after four years of inaction by the Biden Administration that caused agriculture to go from a trade surplus under President Trump, to a significant trade deficit under President Biden.

Source : usda.gov

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.