The Aggregate Aggregation V5
Agroecology in the News (Week of March 3, 2025)
Welcome back to The Aggregate Aggregation, our weekly roundup of news and publications that caught our eyes over the last week or so. You can read Volume 4 here.
In this issue, Digging Deep explores new opportunities for collaboration, and tension, between the USDA and the HHS/ FDA. Surface Level includes a range of topics, from updates on federal tariff policy (and how it could impact farmers) to a look at innovative agricultural technologies and their impacts. Keep reading for more!
Let’s make it a conversation! Please share your reflections - we’d love to continue the discussion in the comments.
Digging Deep: USDA x HHS?
While the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS), which houses the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), historically operate as distinct executive federal entities, signs point to new synergies, and new possibilities for conflict, between the two departments.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK), HHS Secretary, has dominated headlines and kitchen table conversations with his “Make America Healthy Again,” or “MAHA,” battlecry. As Politico reports, and as the editors of The Aggregate can corroborate based on our attendance at last week’s USDA Ag Outlook conference, Secretary Brooke Rollins of the USDA has pledged support for this MAHA movement. This includes a push (from many within the new administration as well as Republicans on the House ag committee) to prevent SNAP recipients from using program funds to purchase sugary items like soft drinks and candies, as reported by the NY Post. Rollins has also committed to reducing ultra-processed foods through federal school lunch programs. As Food Fix reported this week, President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as FDA commissioner, Marty Makary, “pledged to take a harder look at food additives writ large,” arguing that “food plays a big role in the chronic diseases facing children.”
This direction has some “farmers and food industry leaders [worried] about potential bans on some pesticides and GMOs” (again, from Politico), but could present opportunities for farms practicing a more agroecological approach. The question is, are these farms prepared to participate in the institutional procurement machine, and are state programs even set up to allow them to participate?
Tensions are also appearing in the fight against bird flu. As we shared last week, Secretary Rollins announced the Department’s plans for combating HPAI (bird flu). This plan includes an aggressive roll out of vaccines for poultry, a push that RFK, HHS Secretary, is now opposing, according to CBS.
Meanwhile, Food Safety Network reports that “President Trump eliminates two key food safety committees,” the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, says “the termination of these two important advisory committees is very alarming and should serve as a warning to consumers that food safety will not be a priority at USDA in the foreseeable future.”
There’s much to watch in this space, and we’re looking forward to sharing more as it happens.
How are you reading the relationship between the USDA and other federal agencies, especially the FDA? We’ve love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Surface Level
This week, we noticed themes across federal policy, especially continued uncertainty posed by the Trump Administration’s approach to tariffs; bird flu made headlines once again; new advances in ag technology including agrivoltaics and digesters; and other headlines that include PFAS and support for the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
🌏Tariff whiplash
How Trump’s Tariffs Will Affect Farmers and Food Prices (Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker). “On Tuesday morning, President Trump doubled the 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods to 20 percent and put 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. The three countries are America’s biggest trading partners… Over the past several weeks, farmers representing a wide range of agricultural interests have expressed concerns that tariffs would hurt farmers by threatening export markets and raising the costs of imported goods.”
March 7, 2025 Update: On March 6, after a barrage of pushback from agricultural groups and lawmakers, President Trump temporarily exempted products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) from tariffs until April 2. Many agricultural products are covered by USMCA. In a press release, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins praised the move and said Trump also lowered the tariff on potash, not covered by USMCA, from 25 percent to 10 percent.
Rollins Takes On Tariffs (Politico Weekly Ag). “As Trump gears up to roll out his sweeping tariff threats, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is promising farmers she’d be “in the room” to protect them from the economic repercussions… Rollins also told farmers she would release funds under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, acknowledging farmers’ worries about the major federal spending freeze. USDA has paused much of its spending that was already allocated to farmers and programs, causing chaos and uncertainty among those who weren’t sure if they’d get the money they expected.”
Hochul warns Trump's tariffs, spending cuts could have ripple effect on N.Y. (NY State of Politics). “Gov. Kathy Hochul blasted President Donald Trump's long-threatened tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports as they took effect Tuesday — warning they could prove detrimental to New York farmers… Hochul said Trump's promised 25% tariffs on goods and energy from Canada and Mexico will raise costs for families between $1,300 to $3,000 per year, and the price hikes could put New York farmers out of business — especially those who sell products internationally.”
'Bear with me,' Trump says as both farmers and consumers brace for tariff effects (ABC News). “In his address to Congress Tuesday night, Trump argued that agricultural imports hurt American farmers and asked them to "bear with me again" as he seeks to protect them. He didn't mention any additional aid. “I love the farmer,” he said.”
🐓Bird flu dominates headlines for another week
Two upcoming, virtual events from Cornell Cooperative Extension provide more information and an overview of the critical issues related to HPAI; we’ve included the registration links below:
Are egg producers inflating prices during the bird flu outbreak to boost profits? (AP). “Egg producers blame the bird flu outbreak for driving prices to record highs, but critics believe giant companies are taking advantage of their market dominance to profit handsomely at the expense of budget-conscious egg buyers. Advocacy groups, Democratic lawmakers and a Federal Trade Commission member are calling for a government investigation after egg prices spiked to a record average of $4.95 per dozen this month. The Trump administration did unveil a plan this week to combat bird flu, but how much that might ease egg prices — a key driver of inflation — remains to be seen.”
🚜Ag tech
Agrivoltaics Offer Array of Options for Farmland Use (Morning Ag Clips). “Buildout of solar energy infrastructure across the state has become an issue of grave concern for many farmers.”
Institute for Northwest Energy Futures to demonstrate dual-use capability of solar panels in apple production (WSU Insider). “Washington State University’s Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF) has received a $2.4 million grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to demonstrate the economic and agricultural feasibility of using solar panels concurrent with apple production in Washington.”
Perceptions of Anaerobic Digesters in the Media (Morning Ag Clips). “Join Forrest Stagner, Postdoctoral scholar and Adjunct Instructor of Anthropology from Penn State University, as he delves into the narratives surrounding digesters. Learn what the overall perception of digesters has been and how it has changed as digesters have moved from a novel technology to an established practice. These media perceptions can make a significant difference in the adoption and governance of technology, so understanding them is crucial for furthering the use and benefits of digesters and the grass2gas value chain. This webinar will take place on Tuesday, March 18th, at 12 pm EST.”
🔄Everything else that caught our eyes
What Are PFAS And Do We Need To Worry About Them? (The Good Trade). “What started as an accidental but innovative way to save time on cleaning kitchenwares, protecting firefighters, and keeping our clothing and furniture stain-free ultimately created a chemical thunderstorm that we now know pollutes consumer goods and food and has even infiltrated our environmental resources. Whether we realize it or not, we are in constant contact with various forms of PFAS that can be absorbed through our skin and quickly and unknowingly ingested.”
National Survey Reveals Diverse Benefits of Farmers Market Attendance (Morning Ag Clips). “A new national study reveals that farmers markets are much more than just a place to buy fresh produce; they are vital community hubs that boost health, foster social connections, and support local economies.”
NASDA Members Champion 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (Morning Ag Clips). “Through this action, NASDA acknowledges the vital contributions of women farmers and supports programs that enhance access to critical tools and opportunities. NASDA encourages domestic and international efforts to uplift and celebrate women in agriculture while advocating for policies that foster opportunity for the entire agricultural sector.”
What did we miss? Drop a link to your favorite story of the week (or month, or year) in the comments. Tell us why it resonated with you!
What we’re reading
A list of sources the editors at The Aggregate check regularly for our agroecology+ news.
Ooooh, such a good question about MAHA and opportunities for farms practicing a more agroecological approach, and if they are prepared to participate in the institutional procurement machine. I am so intrigued by this Make America Healthy Again movement, and it's rather surprising mix of supporters. I read this fun article about it in New York Magazine. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-is-maha-health-wellness-movement-rfk-jr-policies.html
My guess would be that the sort answer is no, our farm-to-institution processes are not set up in a way right now to be able to switch away from ultra-processed or more local foods, at least not quickly. The folks at Farm to Institution New England (https://www.farmtoinstitution.org/) might have more to say about it? Maybe I can get them to write a post...