GRAY, BROWN PRESS USDA SECRETARY ON DELAYED, INCOMPLETE QUARTERLY AG TRADE REPORT AS FARMERS GRAPPLE WITH TARIFF FALLOUT
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced) and Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-OH), both members of the House Committee on Agriculture, led a letter earlier this month to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding answers about why the USDA delayed the publication of the Quarterly Agricultural Trade Report and why the late report was incomplete when delivered after its deadline.
The letter was sent following months of uncertainty surrounding trade policy and tariffs, causing disruption to farm and export operations across the Central Valley. In 2021, California farmers produced over $22 billion in agricultural exports, with no region of the state contributing more significantly than the Central Valley.
The Quarterly Agricultural Trade Report is a critical resource for farmers, dairymen, producers and traders, who rely on accurate and up-to-date data about agricultural imports and exports. The report scheduled for publication on May 29, 2025, was delayed until June 2 and published without certain official trade data and explanatory sections typically included in the report.
In April, Congressman Gray introduced legislation to protect Valley farmers from retaliatory tariffs from trading partners. He has also questioned Secretary Rollins about USDA’s plans to protect and strengthen funding for agricultural research and keep American farmers competitive on the world stage.
In the letter, the Members write: “The off-and-on tariffs and concerns about the stability of existing trade agreements have posed challenges to American producers and given competitors such as Brazil and Argentina an advantage. Within this context, it is critical that farmers and other agricultural stakeholders have access to accurate and timely data and reports.
“Market and trade reports are critical tools for various agricultural stakeholders. They have historically been viewed as objective and are used by farmers, academics, traders, and others who expect and rely upon the government to be honest brokers and put forth timely data that reflects the state of the agricultural economy,” they continue.
“When the report was published, it was incomplete: it did not include the explanatory section, which provides context for the projections and what global conditions underlie any shifts in the numbers. The report also projected a slight increase in the agricultural trade deficit, which runs counter to the narrative that the Administration has publicly pushed. This makes it appear that you withheld the report because of unflattering data. Concerningly, holding back this report implies that the Administration is willing to withhold or possibly meddle with data that doesn’t comport with its worldview. That undermines the hard and honest work of staff at FAS, ERS, and within other parts of USDA.”
Nine other members of the House Committee signed the letter to Secretary Rollins: Ranking Member Angie Craig, Representatives Jim Costa, Shomari Figures, Jonathan Jackson, Jim McGovern, Chellie Pingree, David Scott, Eric Sorensen, and Jill Tokuda.
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