Berks County News

Today, Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at a family-owned dairy farm in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. The event included a roundtable with farmers and agricultural leaders from across the commonwealth. Attending the discussion were Senator Dave McCormick (PA), Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Congressman Rob Bresnahan (PA-08). Congressman Meuser accompanied Secretary Rollins on additional stops in Lebanon County and South-Central Pennsylvania during the day.

The event featured a tour of the dairy operation, which uses robotic milking systems and produces over 5 million pounds of milk annually. Participants in the roundtable discussed various challenges and opportunities in the region's agricultural sector, including overregulation, risk management, farm transitions, trade access, and nutrition programs. Local producers, including members of the Amish Community, were present to represent Pennsylvania’s diverse agricultural economy.

Congressman Meuser stated, “This event was about listening and taking action. We’re working closely with Secretary Rollins and our congressional partners to advance President Trump’s agenda to benefit farmers and rural America—whether that means restoring market access, reducing unnecessary regulations, preventing increased taxes, strengthening risk management tools, or supporting nutrition and food security programs. Agriculture plays a central role in Pennsylvania’s economy and way of life, and these conversations ensure we’re delivering real results for the people who feed our nation.”

Secretary Rollins affirmed the Administration’s dedication to centering farmers in national policy. She highlighted USDA’s initiatives to provide relief funding, improve the agricultural labor system, and reduce paperwork and federal regulations, focusing on small and family-owned farms. Rollins also discussed expanding export opportunities and stressed that food security equates to national security.

Key topics included supporting small farms, expanding export markets, investment in risk protection programs, improvements to the H-2A workforce system, and advancing dairy pricing reform. The meeting began with prayer by FFA Chaplain Jaclyn Martin and featured dairy products from Way-Har Farms.

Participants in the roundtable included Secretary Rollins, Senator McCormick, Congressman Thompson, Congressman Bresnahan, Congressman Meuser, State Senator Chris Gebhard, and various agricultural leaders and farmers from the region.

Secretary Rollins emphasized the significance of such discussions in shaping policies that are responsive and effective. She noted that direct engagement with producers leads to better solutions.

Before the roundtable, the Secretary and Members of Congress toured Bell & Evans in Fredericksburg, discussing poultry industry challenges and avian flu prevention efforts with the Sechler family.