Ag Groups Pleased With Perdue Confirmation

American Farm Bureau Federation

The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farm Bureau heartily congratulates Secretary Sonny Perdue on his new role leading our nation’s Agriculture Department. We are eager for agriculture to finally have a seat in the president’s cabinet, and we know Secretary Perdue is just as eager to get to work for farmers, consumers and rural America.”

“Secretary Perdue is a long-time friend to me and farmers across Georgia, and soon to the millions of men and women across our country who feed and clothe our nation. He is a real-world farmer himself and knows the business inside out. He understands the impact farm labor shortages, trade agreements and regulations have on a farmer’s bottom line and ability to stay in business from one season to the next. There’s important work ahead for the secretary, and he’ll need to address these challenges against the backdrop of the biggest drop in farm prices and income we’ve seen in decades. But just like America’s farmers and ranchers, I know Secretary Perdue isn’t afraid of a hard day’s work. We are confident he is the right man for the job at hand.”

National Association of Conservation Districts

The National Association of Conservation Districts congratulates Secretary Sonny Perdue on his confirmation as head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture today.

Former Georgia Governor Perdue is the third agriculture secretary in the history of USDA to live and work on a farm as an adult. NACD has supported his nomination since it was first announced by President Donald Trump in January.

“As governor, he oversaw the economy of one of the top agricultural states in this nation,” NACD President Brent Van Dyke said. “He has a proven track record for effective governing and a reputation as a dedicated public servant. NACD appreciated his endorsement of voluntary conservation in this nomination hearing and look forward to working with him, now and throughout his tenure, to advance the adoption of voluntary conservation on working lands across this country.”

NACD, and a long list of other agriculture, wildlife, and conservation groups, sent a letter of support for Perdue’s nomination earlier this year.

National Cotton Council

The National Cotton Council (NCC) looks forward to working with Sonny Perdue who was confirmed today by the Senate as the 31^st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

NCC Chairman Ronnie Lee said, “Sonny Perdue is highly qualified to lead USDA and he can help ensure a strong and viable agricultural and rural economy. His strong production and agribusiness background makes him keenly aware of U.S. agriculture’s critical importance in: 1) feeding and clothing this country and the world, 2) powering this nation’s economy and 3) contributing to rural America’s well-being.

“The U.S. cotton industry also believes that someone from this country’s second largest cotton-producing state well recognizes what is necessary to stabilize the U.S. cotton industry,” stated Lee, a Bronwood, Ga., cotton producer. “We are excited and stand ready to partner with Secretary Perdue with a goal of getting programs and policies in place that will ensure our industry continues to contribute to the American economy.”

Regarding those contributions, Lee noted that farms and businesses directly involved in the production, distribution and processing of U.S. cotton employ more than 125,000 workers and produce direct business revenue of more than $21 billion. Accounting for the ripple effect through the broader U.S. economy, total economic activity attributed to cotton is in excess of $95 billion.

As the U.S. cotton industry’s central organization, the NCC represents 25,000-plus industry members that include cotton producers as well as ginners, cottonseed processors and merchandisers, merchants, cooperatives, warehousers, and textile manufacturers. The NCC’s mission is ensuring each of these industry segments’ ability to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.

National Milk Producers Federation

“We congratulate Secretary Sonny Perdue on his confirmation by the Senate today, and we’re eager to work with him on the challenges facing the nation’s dairy farmers – issues he’s already indicated he will tackle at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Secretary Perdue knows that dairy farmers depend on export markets around the world and closer to home, which is why it is important for USDA to insist on preserving market access to key customers in Mexico, and demand that Canada plays by the international trade rules to which it has already agreed.

“We also need Secretary Perdue’s support to help develop new dairy export markets in Japan and elsewhere. As one of every seven tankers of milk we produce is exported, agricultural trade policy plays a central role in boosting the health of the rural economy.

“Secretary Perdue has expressed support for improving the dairy Margin Protection Program so that it can serve as the effective safety net it was intended to be. NMPF looks forward to working with Secretary Perdue and his staff at USDA to improve the tools available to dairy farmers to help manage the economic and natural risks they face.

“We also commend Secretary Perdue on his support – reiterated during his Senate Agriculture Committee hearing – for relieving the obstacles dairy producers deal with when looking to hire workers for year-round labor.

“Secretary Perdue is highly qualified to run USDA, having grown up on a farm, been trained as a veterinarian, enjoyed success as a small businessman, and serving as Georgia governor for eight years. We look forward to working together to create new opportunities to better the lives of dairy farmers and others living in rural America.”