USDA secretary outlines rapid relief plan, avian‑flu response and labor, trade priorities at Ag Outlook Forum

The Secretary of Agriculture, speaking remotely at the Ag Outlook Forum, outlined priorities in her first weeks on the job and said the department is moving quickly to distribute $30,000,000,000 in disaster and emergency relief, implement a five‑prong response to avian influenza and press to keep agriculture voices at the center of trade and tariff decisions.

The remarks, delivered 14 days after the secretary's confirmation, emphasized the scale of the challenges facing U.S. agriculture. "The state of our agriculture economy is dire, perhaps 1 of the worst in the last 100 years," the Secretary of Agriculture said, citing a projected trade deficit of "45 and a half billion dollars" and a recent decline in the number of farms. She added that "the cost of production is up by nearly 30% in the past year alone" and that the average age of U.S. farmers is 58.

Why it matters: The secretary framed the priorities as immediate and interlocking — rapid federal relief payments for producers affected by disasters; an urgent public‑health response to avian influenza that affects poultry producers and egg supplies; and labor and trade policies that bear directly on producers' bottom lines. She said the administration has a congressional deadline of March 21 to distribute the relief funds and that USDA has processes in place to meet or beat that timeline.

Relief and avian influenza The secretary repeated that the administration is "making great progress in getting the $30,000,000,000 in disaster and emergency relief out the door" and described an intent to move "at light speed," a phrase she used to stress urgency. On avian influenza, she described a "five prong approach" that includes repopulation, biosecurity, steps to address egg costs, and funding for additional research, as well as consideration of vaccines and therapeutics. She said the response is being coordinated "across the government."

Labor and costs Labor costs were raised repeatedly as a top issue in the secretary's meetings with producers. She cited testimony and industry data she said were presented to the Senate — for example, that the International Fresh Produce Association reports labor now makes up about 50% of expenses for some produce operations. She also cited figures she attributed to the Northwest Horticulture Council showing labor costs for a bin of apples rising from $84 to $191 over roughly a decade. The secretary acknowledged differing industry needs for worker programs such as H‑2A, and said she is speaking with the nominee for Labor secretary and with Congress on labor policy.

Trade and tariffs The secretary said she supports the administration's use of tariffs as a policy tool and pledged to be involved early in trade and tariff discussions. "My hope and commitment is that I will be in the room," she said, adding that when policy changes cause short‑term pain for farmers, USDA will pursue ways to "make whole" producers, referencing prior administration practice. She said protecting U.S. agricultural interests will be a priority in cabinet and interagency negotiations.

Rural communities and cross‑cabinet coordination The secretary described a broader agenda of revitalizing rural communities, saying that an "all of government approach" is needed and pointing to cooperation with other cabinet members on housing, health care and education to support rural areas. She referenced planned travel and roundtables in multiple states as part of that outreach.

Confirmation and schedule The secretary discussed her confirmation process and said she met with members of the Senate Agriculture Committee from both parties before being confirmed; she described being sworn in at the Supreme Court and immediately briefed on avian influenza upon arrival at USDA. During a brief question‑and‑answer session, moderator Seth asked about sleep and travel; the session then closed with the secretary thanking attendees.

What the remarks did not decide The forum remarks were statements of intent and priorities; the transcript shows no formal votes or new regulatory actions announced during the session. Specific implementation details, eligibility rules for the relief funds, and schedules for any potential tariff actions or labor‑policy changes were not provided at the event and remain to be determined by USDA, Congress or other agencies.

Ending The secretary said she will continue traveling and meeting with producers across states and urged collaboration across federal and state partners as the department moves to carry out relief, disease response and other priorities.