That president-elect Donald Trump’s final cabinet nomination is for USDA secretary probably says something about his mindset concerning most things agriculture.

Back burner.

After all, Trump named two candidates to serve as attorney general before he got around to tapping Glen Rose, Texas-native Brooke Rollins to lead the massively complex United States Department of Agriculture.

Now that he’s got around to it, Trump’s pick for USDA secretary is something of a head scratcher for Big Ag and agricultural organizations alike.

Rollins has little leadership experience with agriculture. In Trump’s first administration, she served as a domestic policy advisor. Currently, she is president and CEO of the American First Policy Institute that promotes Trump’s views on border security, energy and foreign policy.

In announcing her agricultural chops, a Trump press release noted:

“From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience…”

Rollins also has an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M in agricultural leadership and development.

If we’re being honest, nothing in her biography screams agriculture executive of a department with an annual budget that exceeds $209 billion and 100,000 employees responsible for overseeing the U.S.’s $1.5 trillion agriculture and food industry.

Rollins will need to learn on the job rapidly. She’ll be handed a dumpster fire of agricultural issues after Senate confirmation:

The Farm Bill. With the GOP takeover of Congress and the White House next month, lawmakers are in the process of extending the already delayed farm bill, giving Republicans an opportunity to pack the bill with contentious demands.

The slow-burn growing bird flu crisis. USDA is currently involved in a multitude of challenges regarding highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza that has to date infected more than 600 dairy herds across the United States and shows no signs of waning.

USDA’s relationship with Health and Human Services. HHS nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. promises to terminate decades of corporate farm practices in a war against corn, sugar and soybean industries that he claims are poisoning Americans. None of which are directly under HHS purview. It will be up to Rollins to ensure Kennedy stays in his own lane.

Tariffs. Trump presumably spent time talking directly to Rollins prior to her nomination. And I’m sure Trump asked if she would loyally back his plans to reignite a tariff war with China and Mexico and, for good measure, toss Canada into the mix. Agricultural groups are counting on Rollins to somehow moderate Trump’s pending tariff war where she would likely have support in the Senate. I expect Senators will pull no punches in pressing tariff concerns during Rollins’ confirmation hearing. For their part, farmers are already feeling the financial pinch of record labor costs and reduced government support. During his first administration, Trump paid farmers for their losses due to his tariff war on China. Would he be willing to do so again as a lame-duck president? And what sway might Rollins have in his thinking?

Consultations over the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement. The deal requires a joint review in 2026 where the nations can offer changes or modifications. The trade deal will sunset in 2036 — if the three nations fail to affirm renewal after the 2026 review; renewal would be for another 16-year term. USMCA is much more than agriculture, but I’d be shocked if there were not changes impacting ag trade.

Immigration. Trump has promised to deport millions of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Farm groups are hoping Trump will provide an exemption for roughly 1 million farmworkers lacking legal status.

As for agricultural issues Rollins would personally like to address … who knows? America First Policy Institute policy concerns have little to say about everyday agricultural issues. Nor is Rollins talking. All in all, it promises to be a bumpy 2025 for all things agriculture.