"Brooke Rollins: A Champion for America's Agricultural Communities"
Background
Rollins, 52, hails from Glen Rose, Texas. Growing up on a family farm, she actively participated in FFA, serving as a state officer, and was also involved in 4-H. Her family still resides in Fort Worth. In a Sunday post on X, expressing gratitude for well wishes after the nomination, she emphasized the impact of her agriculture teacher at Glen Rose High School, Gary Rosenbusch, who she credits with changing her life.Rollins graduated from Texas A&M University in 1994, becoming the first woman to be named student body president. She then went on to earn her law degree from the University of Texas. After law school, she worked at Hughes & Luce LLP in Dallas, which later merged with K&L Gates. She served as the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) for 15 years and was also former Texas governor Rick Perry's policy director. In 2018, she was appointed an assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives and director of the Office of American Innovation. She held these positions until May 2020, when Trump appointed her director of the Domestic Policy Council until the end of his first administration. After leaving office in 2021, she co-founded the AFPI with former Trump adviser Larry Kudlow and has served as its president and CEO since.Policy History
During her first year in the Trump administration, Rollins is reported to have played a role in the First Steps Act, a bill that overhauled the criminal justice system and was signed into law in December 2018. While at the TPPF, the organization was involved in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act and influenced various other conservative policy initiatives in Texas.At the AFPI, Rollins and the organization were deeply engaged with the Trump 2024 campaign on policy issues. Their website features an agenda with 10 "pillars," emphasizing the need for policies that put American citizens first. However, there is limited information on the AFPI website or in its agenda regarding how it views agriculture policy, except for calls to ban Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland. Politico reported that Rollins' ag policy experience compared to other members of the Trump team's shortlist for USDA leadership led to intense "jockeying" over the role until the Saturday announcement.If confirmed, Rollins will be responsible for overseeing the USDA's $430 billion yearly budget and its significant influence on the food industry. As agriculture secretary, she may collaborate closely with Trump's Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is expected to have a major impact on the food and agriculture sectors if confirmed.Unlock the Potential of Technology in Agriculture with Adam Gittins
How Technology Has Transformed Farming
For many farmers, adopting new technology can be intimidating. However, Adam Gittins shows otherwise. Technology has seamlessly integrated into every aspect of agriculture. Autosteer operates flawlessly in every pass across the field. Variable-rate technology precisely applies the right products in the right places. Planters have enhanced features, enabling more precise seed placement at faster rates. Even grain bin automation saves a substantial amount of money by eliminating the need to manually turn on and off fans. This automation is drastically improving farming practices compared to traditional methods.The Indispensable Technology for Farmers
When asked about the one piece of technology he couldn't give up, Adam Gittins chose data. He collects data during every farm operation pass and analyzes it to identify areas for improvement. This data allows him to make necessary adjustments and enhance farming processes.The Impact of HTS Ag on Viewing Technology
Being involved with HTS Ag has had a profound impact on Adam Gittins' farming. He needs to have a deep understanding of the technology to explain it to customers and help them see the benefits. He focuses on the financial payback rather than just selling flashy equipment. By using the technology themselves, they can demonstrate its real-time advantages, such as making life easier, increasing yield, or reducing costs.The Challenges of Introducing New Technologies
One of the major challenges is familiarity. New technology disrupts farmers' habits and requires them to learn new ways of doing things. Overcoming the education and adoption hurdle is crucial. Another challenge is connectivity. While 4G is becoming more reliable and 5G offers increased speed, there are still rural areas where connectivity remains a problem. This can hinder the integration and automation of farming processes.What Drives Adam Gittins in the Agriculture Industry
At the core, it's the people. When Adam Gittins can provide a technology solution to address a farmer's challenge and see their appreciation, it gives him great motivation. Knowing that he is making a positive impact on farmers' lives keeps him excited about being a part of the agriculture industry.Unbeatable Black Friday Deals on Nikon Z8
Nikon Z8: A Game-Changer in the Camera Market
The Nikon Z8 is truly a remarkable camera. At Adorama in the US, it's now available for just $3,496.95 (was $3,996.96). In the UK, the price cuts are even more significant. At WEX, the Z8 is priced at £3,149.99, a full £850 off. And there are some excellent value bundles available, such as with the superb 24-120mm lens. Black Friday is a time when one's bank account can take a hit, but these deals make it worth it.
What's even more impressive is that this price brings the asking price of the Z8 to around half that of the recently announced Sony A1 II. Sony's flagship camera is in many ways a rival to the Z8, and this savings is part of the 2024 Black Friday camera deals. You'll find all the camera deals with my stamp of approval here, including $200 / £400 off the Nikon Z6 III.
My Experience with the Nikon Z8
I had the opportunity to get my hands on the Z8 during an in-depth review, and it scored a maximum 5/5 rating. (Image credit: Future) The Nikon Z9 is technically Nikon's flagship mirrorless camera. It's a larger and more powerful device with better battery life and slightly longer video record times. But in terms of functionality and performance, the Z8 is practically the same camera, just in a smaller package and at a fraction of the cost. This makes it Nikon's best camera in my opinion, as you can see from my in-depth Nikon Z8 review.
Nikon is known for its aggressive pricing compared to Canon and Sony. The Z8 was already cheaper than its rivals, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the new Sony A1 II. But with this huge price cut, it becomes the best value professional mirrorless camera available during Black Friday.
The Z8's Headline Features
This camera boasts a stacked full-frame sensor with 45MP stills, superb 8K video specs, and 20fps burst shooting. The build quality is excellent, and the Z8's handling is top-notch. Nikon knows how to make cameras that professionals love, and I can attest to that as one of those professionals.
If you don't need the full power of the Z8, the new Z6 III is a more affordable alternative. It's now available at Adorama in the US for $2,296.95 or at Park Cameras in the UK for £2,299. That's a savings of $200 / £400.
Black Friday Sales Beyond Cameras
In addition to the great camera deals, there are also some amazing sales on other items during Black Friday. In the US, Amazon has TVs, smart home devices, and air fryers starting from just $12.99. Apple is offering AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks from $89.99. Best Buy has $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops, and headphones. You can find cheap TVs at Best Buy starting from $69.99, and top-rated Christmas trees from $54.99. Dell has its best-selling Inspiron and XPS laptops starting from $279.99. Dreamcloud is offering mattress deals from $349 with free shipping. Holiday decor, lights, Christmas trees, and pajamas are all available from $10.99 at Home Depot. Lowe's has holiday decor, appliances, and tools starting from $17.31. Nectar is offering up to 50% off all mattresses. Nordstrom has 46% off boots, coats, jeans, and jewelry. Samsung has $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches, and appliances. Target has savings on furniture, tech, and clothing. And Walmart has cheap TVs, robot vacs, furniture, and appliances.
In the UK, Amazon has up to 68% off toothbrushes and TVs. AO is offering savings on games consoles and appliances. Argos has up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs, and gifts. Boots has up to 50% off Dyson, Oral-B, and Philips. Currys has early deals on TVs, appliances, and laptops. Dell has laptops, desktops, and monitors starting from £299. Dyson has up to £150 off. Ebay has up to 50% off refurbished tech. EE has up to £600 off Samsung and Apple. John Lewis has up to £300 off appliances and TVs. LG has £1,000 or more off TVs and appliances. Samsung has up to £600 off TVs, phones, and tablets. Very has up to 30% off phones, appliances, and clothing.