President Donald Trump's pick to run the Agriculture Department, Brooke Rollins, led an organization that opposed ethanol mandates and farm subsidies, major programs she could influence if confirmed,

Brooke Rollins, the president’s nominee to lead the Agriculture Department, appeared before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday.

President Donald Trump’s nominee to oversee American farming was once head of a group that was among the loudest opponents of a favorite US agriculture product: biofuels.

Neither of Texas’ two senators serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. But both Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz introduced Rollins at Thursday’s hearing, calling her a “no-brainer.” Both have known Rollins for decades going back to her time in the Texas governor’s office and leading the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins on Thursday promised to protect the nation's farmers, ranchers and rural communities if confirmed by the Senate during her confirmation hearing.