Vaden defends USDA policies, promises revised MAHA report

At the 40th International Sweetener Symposium, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden spoke about what he called the Trump administration’s commitment to advancing a stronger future for American agriculture.

Speaking before a packed room of sugarbeet and sugarcane growers, trade officials, and industry leaders in Traverse City, Michigan, Vaden reportedly outlined the administration’s ongoing efforts to prioritize domestic farmers and rural communities.

“I think that you will see when the second commission report is issued that you were heard and that you influenced the result,” Vaden said.

The first MAHA report, released in May, drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Agricultural groups argued that it presented an unduly negative portrayal of pesticides and seed oils, disregarding scientific evidence supporting their safety

“Every action that we’re taking is with an America-first and farmers-first philosophy,” Vaden said.

He cited the USDA’s July decision to cap the tariff rate quota for specialty sugar at the minimum required under trade agreements — a move previously applauded by the American Sugar Alliance. Vaden emphasized the significance of this decision as an example of the department’s broader approach:

“You saw a taste of that a little earlier, when the [USDA] announced that we were going to set the tariff rate quota for specialty sugar at the minimum required by our trade agreements, and not one gram more,” he continued.

The remarks were met with a standing ovation, reflecting strong support from attendees for policies that protect the domestic sugar industry.

Vaden also reaffirmed the administration’s guiding principle of protecting U.S. agriculture through all decision-making processes. 

“One of the things that it’s important to keep in mind, is that for everything this administration does, no harm must come to America’s farm and rural communities,” he said. “The best way that we can ensure Americans are healthy and well taken care of is to ensure that as much as possible of what they eat is grown here in the United States of America. We have the most efficient, the most sustainable, and the safest food supply the world has ever seen.”

“We should want that food supply to be what’s on the plate of every American. So, making America healthy begins with making what’s on America’s plate, American again,” he noted.

In his address, Vaden also voiced support for the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes provisions vital to the sugar industry. He stressed the bill’s role in stabilizing the ag economy and helping farmers remain in business during challenging times.

“I don’t think it’s overstating it in saying that the passage of [the One Big Beautiful Bill Act] will help to ensure that we keep more farmers actually in the field doing what they love best, and that they don’t lose their family farms or be forced out of agriculture altogether, given the current rough patch that [the farm economy is] going through,” he said.

Introducing Vaden was Neil Juhnke, president and CEO of Michigan Sugar Company, who emphasized the deputy secretary’s personal connection to agriculture.

“Deputy Secretary Vaden comes from a long line of farmers and understands firsthand why America-first trade policies must be pursued,” Juhnke said. “He’s dedicated his career to ensuring rural America can thrive, and he brings both expertise and heart to his job.”

»Related: Make America Healthy Again Report delivers scathing assessment of farm pesticides