Photo: MANDEL NGAN / AFP / Getty Images
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg on Thursday (January 15) to address criticism from Governor Josh Shapiro regarding President Trump's tariffs. Shapiro had described the tariffs as a "multi-billion-dollar problem for the ag industry," but Rollins dismissed these remarks as "a tired talking point from the Democrats." She argued that the tariffs are necessary to rebalance an agriculture trade deficit left by the Biden administration.
During her visit, Rollins emphasized the positive impact of the tariffs, noting that dairy exports have increased by 23% since President Trump took office. This statistic is particularly relevant to Pennsylvania, which ranks seventh in the nation for dairy exports. Rollins also highlighted the administration's efforts to support farmers through policies such as raising crop reference prices, expanding farmer safety nets, and providing $12 billion in "bridge payments" to help farmers transition to what she described as a "golden age for agriculture."
Despite Rollins' reassurances, some Pennsylvania farmers remain concerned about the uncertainty created by the tariffs. Brent Copenhaver, a dairy farmer from Lebanon County, expressed uncertainty about the local impact of the tariffs. Rollins acknowledged these concerns, stating that the administration is prepared to provide relief to farmers if necessary.
Rollins was joined at the farm show by several officials, including Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, who supports the tariffs and believes they will ultimately benefit the economy. Rollins also praised Thompson for his role in passing a bill allowing whole milk in American schools, which she said would benefit dairy farmers.
While Rollins defended the tariffs, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows a more complicated picture. U.S. agriculture exports reached record highs in 2022 under former President Joe Biden but declined in subsequent years. The agricultural trade deficit, which began widening in 2019, continued to grow in 2025.