U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Monday, Oct. 26, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is finalizing a trade agreement to expand U.S. ethanol exports to Mexico. She made the announcement after touring an ADM processing plant in Cedar Rapids. KCRG reported the visit first, in a story posted the night of Oct. 26. Brownfield Ag News also reported it on Oct. 27.

During the same visit, Rollins also addressed beef imports from Brazil, KCRG reported. Some eastern Iowa farmers have raised concerns about those imports, KCRG reported.

What Rollins said about Mexico

Rollins did not give details of the agreement. She said it is still being worked out, Brownfield Ag News reported. "I don’t want to get in front of the details of the deal because we’re finalizing it," Rollins said, according to Brownfield. "But we have a deal in concept, I’ve been working directly with the president of Mexico and her team on it."

Rollins said that more access to the Mexican market could raise U.S. ethanol exports by more than 30%, Brownfield reported. She estimated that, if the deal is finalized, it would bring an added $1.5 billion to the U.S. ethanol industry. The Brownfield headline gave the possible increase as 32%.

Rollins said the deal would help both farmers and processors. "Benefiting not only our farmers, but also processing mills like the one here at ADM," she said, according to Brownfield. She added that such plants "can easily help fill new ethanol demand driven by our southern neighbor."

According to KCRG, Rollins also pointed to growth in U.S. agriculture exports since President Donald Trump took office. Neither outlet reported a date when the Mexico agreement would be final.

Beef imports from Brazil

KCRG reported that the visit took place as the United States is bringing in up to 300,000 metric tons of beef from Brazil without tariffs. Some farmers in eastern Iowa have said the decision could hurt farms in the area, the station reported. KCRG did not name the farmers.

Rollins said she hears farmers' concerns but that the move was a necessary step, KCRG reported. "I fully understand the frustration of our cattleman as we're facing the lowest herd in American history," Rollins said, according to the station.

Earlier farm aid

The announcement comes after another federal action aimed at farmers during the fall harvest. On Oct. 21, TFS News reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture offered up to $8 billion in fuel aid as the Iowa harvest ran behind average.

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