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NFU President hopes Perdue is ready for challenges

The President of the National Farmers Union says he hopes Former Governor Sonny Perdue is ready to hit the ground running.

Roger Johnson says if Perdue is confirmed as ag secretary, he’ll need to put together a USDA budget immediately.

“The government is operating on a partial budget right now. Congress is in the process of trying to put together a budget for the rest of the year. That is immediately in front of all the cabinet secretaries and is something that he’s going to have to be deciding on in a matter of days,” says Johnson.

Johnson tells Brownfield discussions have already begun on the 2018 Farm Bill, and he hopes Perdue defers to Congress for input as the bill is drafted.

“Usually that goes a little bit more smoothly but it’s hard to predict anything these days. But generally I think most folks would say that. Lot’s of big questions and big challenges. But from everything I’ve heard, he’s got a lot of attributes necessary for the next Secretary of Agriculture,” says Johnson.

Johnson says he’d like Perdue to build opportunities for rural America through his role at USDA to help farmers manage risk in a down farm economy.

Audio: Roger Johnson, President, National Farmers Union

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