‘Moving at Trump Speed’: USDA Secretary Rolls Out Plans to Combat High Fertilizer and Beef Prices

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined aggressive short- and long-term strategies to address elevated fertilizer costs impacting American farmers and rising beef prices affecting consumers ahead of Memorial Day.

In a discussion on fertilizer challenges, Secretary Rollins noted that four companies dominate the global fertilizer market, with only two being American-owned. The U.S. currently imports roughly half of its fertilizer supply at a cost of $9 billion, a shift from decades ago when production was entirely domestic.

Short-Term Actions on Fertilizer

Rollins highlighted a recent announcement detailing immediate steps to bring prices down. These include moving operations from Venezuela onshore and upcoming announcements in the coming days on transportation rules, potential tariff adjustments, and other measures.

She acknowledged that global factors are driving current high prices, including export restrictions from China and issues with Morocco. While opening the Strait of Hormuz could provide some relief, Rollins emphasized the problem is broader and more complex than that single chokepoint. Thanks to President Trump’s energy independence policies, the U.S. has domestic fertilizer resources, but the primary challenge remains cost.

Long-Term Reshoring Push

For the longer term, Rollins described an all-of-government effort, working with Energy Department officials including Chris Wright, to reshore fertilizer production. The administration is fast-tracking projects across the country, including one in Louisiana where permitting for the world’s largest ammonia plant will be completed in 45 days under the “Trump Fertilizer” initiative.

The goal, Rollins said, is to ensure that by the end of the administration, all U.S. fertilizer is produced domestically, eliminating reliance on imports from countries such as Russia and Ukraine.

“We are moving at Trump speed to fix it,” Rollins stated.

Beef Prices and Herd Rebuilding

Turning to grocery costs, Rollins addressed “sticker shock” facing millions preparing Memorial Day barbecues. The average price of beef currently stands at $6.97 per pound, with ground beef around $6.90 — more than a dollar above historical averages.

She attributed sustained high prices to cattle numbers reaching a three-generation low, combined with increased beef consumption. Rollins credited strong demand to the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative and praised American ranchers for producing the world’s best beef.

The low herd size stems from multiple factors during the previous administration, including policies restricting overgrazing allotments based on climate concerns and reduced cattle operations. Additionally, an immigration-related influx introduced screw worms, leading to port closures that disrupted the industry.

Rollins outlined a long-term plan to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd with a focus on American-raised and processed beef. This includes Department of Justice review of meat processing facilities — two of which are owned by Brazilian companies — as part of broader reshoring efforts.

The combined initiatives on fertilizer and beef aim to strengthen domestic production chains and reduce dependence on foreign sources, according to the Secretary.