By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Editor
In a two-hour session Thursday, former Georgia Governor George “Sonny” Perdue shared with the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry what he would do if confirmed as the 31st Secretary of Agriculture.
Perdue, a Republican, grew up on a dairy and diversified row crop farm in rural Georgia. He holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and is the founder and operator of three agribusiness and transportation firms serving farmers across the Southeastern United States.
“Farming and farmers have been my life ever since. I’ve lived and breathed the exhilaration of a great crop and the despair and devastation of a drought,” Perdue said.
If confirmed by the Senate, Perdue said he would work tirelessly to advance four goals, all of which are focused on American agriculture.
The first, he said, is to maximize the ability of the men and women of America’s agriculture and agribusiness sector to create jobs, to produce and sell the foods and fiber that feed and clothe the world and to reap the earned reward of their labor.
“We want to remove every obstacle, and give them every opportunity to prosper,” Perdue said.
The second goal, according to Perdue, is to prioritize customer service every day.
“They expect, and have every right to demand, that we conduct the people’s business efficiently, effectively and with the utmost integrity,” Perdue said.
American consumers expect a safe and secure food supply. Perdue said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under him will continue to serve in the critical role of ensuring the food we put on the table meets the nation’s strict safety standard.
If confirmed, Perdue said his fourth objective is to take care of the land and natural resources entrusted to the USDA.
“My father’s words still ring in my ears, ‘Son, if you take care of the land, it will take care of you. Owned or rented, we’re all stewards, and our responsibility is to leave it better than we found it,’” Perdue said.
During the confirmation hearing, members of the committee questioned Perdue on other issues facing the USDA like the 2018 Farm Bill.
Perdue told the committee he looks forward to the process as a facts-based, data-driven decision maker.
“I think it’s important that we take those facts of things that have worked, learned from the past, and those things that have not worked, learn from those and create a farm bill for the future in 2018,” Perdue said.
The next farm bill is an opportunity, Perdue said, to meld the wisdom of USDA’s career employees with what constituents tell their lawmakers to ensure the bill meets the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, dairymen, consumers and American taxpayers.
Ranking Committee Member Debbie Stabenow of Michigan told Perdue she has concerns for American dairy farmers who have not been able to qualify for Title I programs.
She said the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union and National Milk Producers met with lawmakers earlier this week to suggest a way USDA could provide additional risk management tools for dairy farmers in the short term.
“We have family farms in Michigan and across the country that are in a very, very difficult situation,” Stabenow said.
Perdue said he would work with Stabenow and others on the committee to use the administrative authority available to him to provide reliable risk management tools.
“I am absolutely committed to look for a way that can give immediate and temporary relief prior to the ’18 Farm Bill if it’s within the discretion of the secretary. We’ve also got to be mindful of budget periods as well, so it’s got to be within the parameters that meet the budget as well, but I think the ideas that have been proposed are intriguing to me,” Perdue said.
Pointing to funding American cotton farmers received last year from the USDA to help with the cost of ginning cotton, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont urged Perdue to provide dairy farmers with support outside of the farm bill.
Leahy also asked USDA to address issues with a temporary visa program, which allows only for seasonal farm workers.
“I will certainly commit to advise and counsel the administration over the need for an agricultural program for workers that is year-round,” Perdue said. “As you indicated, cows can’t be milked ha