News

Perdue reiterates trade is a top priority

New U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue listed his top priorities during a roundtable discussion with farm broadcasters at USDA headquarters Tuesday, and one issue seems to trump them all.

Perdue says a recurring theme developed as he went through what he calls a “100 day” confirmation process.

“Number one was trade, number two was trade (and) number three was trade.”

As the leader of the Department of Agriculture, Perdue wants America’s farmers to know he’s a “grow it and sell it” kind of guy.

“We’ve got some producers out here who can just knock it out of the park growing (crops), and that’s a great thing.  Think about living in a country that would have to be dependent on other countries to feed you.  And we’re so blessed in that regard.  So if these guys and gals can grow it, I’m going to do my best to sell it.”

Perdue says ag labor and government regulation also came up often while being vetted by more than 75 U.S. Senators leading up to his confirmation.