By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Editor

Agriculture was at the forefront of many minds in Washington, D.C. Tuesday.

After he was sworn into office, Agriculture Secretary George “Sonny” Perdue and President Donald Trump hosted a roundtable discussion to explore the issues facing agriculture and rural America today.

The roundtable included more than a dozen farmers and representatives from across the agricultural community.

“The people who are on the front lines of American agriculture don’t have the luxury of waiting to tend to their crops and livestock, so there was no better time to convene this meeting of the minds than on my first day,” Perdue said. “President Trump has made it clear that addressing the needs of rural America will be a top priority, and the message that we want to send to the agricultural community is that we are here, we are working hard and we are on their side.”

They shared their thoughts on agricultural trade, regulatory reform, rural investment and infrastructure, labor issues and the farm bill.

“The Farmers Roundtable provided the chance for the president to hear directly from the people on the front lines of American agriculture about what they are dealing with every day,” Perdue said. “By hosting this discussion, the president has demonstrated his awareness of the plight of American farmers, ranchers, foresters and producers, his intention to seek input and his determination to help.”

President Trump then issued an executive order, Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America.

“Our farmers deserve a government that serves their interests and empowers them to do the hard work that they love to do so much,” Trump said. “That’s what [the] executive order is all about.”

In the order, Trump directs Perdue and the other members of his cabinet to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations that hurt farmers and rural communities.

The order also establishes an Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity with Perdue at its helm.

“Agriculture and rural prosperity in America, that’s what we want. And we don’t want to be taken advantage of by other countries—and that’s stopping. That’s stopping fast,” Trump said.

The task force will identify ways to address economic development, job growth, infrastructure, technological innovations, energy, security, tax policy, barriers to economic prosperity in rural America and more.

“It used to be that people in agriculture feared disease and drought as the greatest threats to their livelihoods and their mission of feeding America and the world,” Perdue said. “While those hazards remain, too often now it is the government—through interference and regulation—that poses the most existential threat to American farming. We aim to put a stop to that.”

Members of the task force will come from several cabinet agencies and the executive branch of government.

The order calls on them to seek input from those involved in agriculture and other stakeholders. A report with recommendations for legislative or administrative actions is due within 180 days.