Democratic Minnesota Representative Angie Craig announced this week that she would jump into the race to lead her party on the House Agriculture Committee. She joins California Rep. Jim Costa in challenging incumbent Ranking Member David Scott of Georgia for the post. 

Craig represents a suburban and rural district immediately south of the Twin Cities. The 52-year-old will begin her fourth term in January. She grew up in rural northeast Arkansas and worked as a journalist in Memphis before moving to Minneapolis approximately 20 years ago. Craig is the first openly LGBT Member of Congress from Minnesota. 

In her first three terms, Craig has served on the Agriculture Committee and developed a reputation as a pragmatic moderate on the panel. In a letter to colleagues announcing her intention to seek the Ranking Member position, Craig said, “I worry that too many rural Americans don’t trust that Democrats have their best interests at heart. It’s my mission to work with you to help change their minds.” 

Craig and Costa are pushing to replace the 79-year-old Scott, who has faced health challenges in recent years and has not returned to Washington after the election due to a back ailment. Many Democrats have raised concerns about his ability to adequately represent their positions in farm bill battles and have advocated for new leadership atop the committee.

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While Craig is respected by colleagues, she may face an uphill battle in the race. Both Scott and Costa are more senior on the committee, and Craig’s home-state Senator Amy Klobuchar is already taking over the Senate Agriculture Committee’s top Democrat. Some Democrats have raised concerns about having both panels led by members from the same state.

Ag groups broadly supportive of USDA nominee

President-Elect Donald Trump has named former top adviser Brooke Rollins to lead the USDA. A native Texan, Rollins served as a state FFA officer and attended Texas A&M University, where she received a degree in Agricultural Development and was the first woman elected student body president.

While Rollins’ selection came as a surprise, it was greeted warmly by many agriculture advocacy groups. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom said Rollins’ “experience and background suggest she will be a strong advocate for free-market policies and agricultural trade.” 

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane was strongly supportive saying, “Brooke Rollins has a history of fighting for Main Street and rural America. America’s cattle producers need a secretary of agriculture who will protect family farms and ranches, roll back crushing regulations and stand up for rural values — and we look forward to working with Secretary-Designate Rollins to make it happen.” 

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Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, praised Rollins for her track record in Texas. “We're pleased she has a good relationship with our state Farm Bureau in Texas and hope to build on it if she's confirmed by the Senate,” he said. “We’re encouraged by her statement that she’d ‘fight for America’s farmers and our nation’s agricultural communities.’ Effective leadership at USDA is more important than ever as farmers and ranchers face a struggling agricultural economy.”

 National Farmers Union President Rob Larew took an optimistic tone, stating, “I am hopeful her rural roots instilled in her the important role family farmers and ranchers play in supporting our nation’s economy.” 

Rollins must face confirmation by the Senate after Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20. Due to the large number of positions to be confirmed, it may be weeks or months before she is formally confirmed.

Meat processors concerned about immigration raids

As President-Elect Donald Trump forms his cabinet, speculation is growing over potential immigration policies, including stricter enforcement measures that could affect the meat and poultry industry. Former acting ICE Director Tom Homan, who Trump has named as “Border Czar,” has indicated plans to resume targeting the industry, citing these as critical to addressing labor trafficking. 

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“Most victims of trafficking we find at work sites,” said Homan in a recent interview with television station WWNY. “Whether it’s the meat packing plant, whether it’s the massage parlor, where people are forced into labor to pay off those smuggling fees, so that’s where we rescue and identify a lot of these trafficking victims.”

Meatpackers reliant on immigrant labor have expressed concerns about the impact of stricter immigration enforcement, potentially leading to labor shortages. Industry leaders warn that increased enforcement could lead to higher food prices. Even in plants whose workers are fully compliant with immigration laws, raids and delays in proving status can cause significant disruptions and a chilling effect to job applicants. In response, trade groups are advocating for expanded temporary work visa programs, while unions and worker advocacy groups prepare to defend against potential civil rights violations. 

This concern stems from past enforcement actions, including a 2018 ICE raid on a Tennessee meatpacking plant, which resulted in the arrests of nearly 100 workers. The raid sparked a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination, with claims that Latino workers were unlawfully targeted while white workers were allowed to leave. A federal judge sided with the workers, and a $1.2 million settlement was awarded. Such legal precedents underscore the potential risks of renewed workplace raids and their implications for the industry.

Amid this uncertainty, companies across sectors are reportedly consulting legal teams to prepare for possible enforcement actions.