US agriculture secretary is ‘100% confident’ that exported biomass meets UK requirements

May 16, 2025

The US agriculture secretary has said the UK could take more US wood pellets as biomass amid ongoing trade talks.
Brooke Rollins told reporters the US is '100% confident' that the country's wood chips adhere to UK sustainability requirements.
Rollins met with UK energy secretary Ed Miliband and energy minister Michael Shanks on 13 May. Her visit to London saw her promoting agricultural produce -

including US wood pellets.
This is despite ongoing questions surrounding the actual sustainability of the biomass sector.

In particular, Drax, which is subsidised by the UK taxpayer, has come under scrutiny on several occasions.
On being asked about allegations that some pellets come from ancient woodlands in the US, she said: “We are 100% confident that it does meet your sustainability requirements here in this country.”

She added: “Yesterday, that was one of the key things that I spoke to Secretary Miliband and Under Secretary Shanks about … and they agreed – I don’t want to get ahead of them – but in that meeting, they felt fully assured that what we are doing in America does meet your sustainability requirements.
“And in fact, we could potentially be opening up more markets for our wood pellets into the UK, as other countries that you’re importing here into this country, are clearly not meeting those marks.”

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Video: Agriculture Secretary Rollins Speaks at American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim

One of the highlights at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California, was an address by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. During her remarks, she thanked America’s farmers and ranchers and said the Trump Administration is fully aware that food security is national security.

She also acknowledged the challenging times in Farm Country with low commodity prices and high input costs and said that’s why the President stepped in to help with the recent Bridge Assistance Program.

Montana Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck says that Farm Bureau members are appreciative of the help and looks forward to working with the American Farm Bureau Federation and its presence in Washington, DC to keep farmers and ranchers in business.

Secretary Rollins said the Trump Administration is also committed to helping ranchers build back America’s cattle herd while also providing more high-quality U.S. beef at the meat case for consumers.

And she also announced more assistance for specialty crop producers who only received a fraction of the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA).

It’s important to note that producers who qualify for Farmer Bridge Assistance can expect the Farm Service Agency to start issuing payments in late February. For more information, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center.