Fargo, ND — April 22, 2025 — North Dakota State University (NDSU) was honored to welcome U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Senator John Hoeven for a pivotal visit focused on strengthening agricultural policy and supporting American producers.

The visit featured a stakeholder roundtable, organized by Senator Hoeven, that brought together agricultural leaders from across North Dakota. The discussion centered on key issues facing the farming sector and the importance of evidence-based policy development.

“One of our key priorities at USDA is to realign the entire department around putting farmers and ranchers in our ag community first,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “That means getting critical assistance out quickly — and as of this morning, we’re releasing $340 million in disaster assistance for farmers.”

NDSU’s ARPC is one of three USDA-designated Policy Research Centers, working in close partnership with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University and the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri. Together, these centers deliver timely, nonpartisan analysis to help ensure that U.S. farm programs are grounded in evidence and responsive to economic realities.

Dr. Sandro Steinbach, Director of the NDSU Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC), participated in the roundtable and highlighted the center’s role in providing objective, policy-relevant research on agricultural risk, market disruptions, and the farm safety net.

“ARPC exists to serve USDA, Congress, and America’s farmers and ranchers with trusted insights when they’re needed most,” said Dr. Steinbach.

North Dakota State University is proud to contribute to this national effort and to represent North Dakota in shaping sound agricultural policy that supports farmers through periods of uncertainty and change.