May 12, 2017
Sonny Perdue, the nation’s new Ag Secretary, announces a major reorganization at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The changes will impact farm production, conservation, and rural development agencies and include the creation of a new position that will strictly deal with international ag trade.
Read more about plans to reform the USDA.
During a Thursday visit to a busy Cincinnati, Ohio grain shipping company, Perdue announced the creation of a new undersecretary for trade, saying it’s a recognition of the ever-increasing importance of international trade to American agriculture.
“We want to find more customers for American products and help feed a hungry world,” said Perdue. “I want someone who wakes every morning and asks the question, ‘Where can I sell more U.S. products today?’ And, ‘What are the barriers to trade that we can take down today?’
As part of the USDA reorganization, Perdue says a new undersecretary will also be selected for a newly-named farm production and conservation mission area, to focus on domestic agricultural issues.
“Locating FSA, RMA, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service under this domestically-oriented undersecretary will provide a simplified one-stop shop for our primary customers, the men and women who are farming, ranching, and foresting across America,” said Perdue.
Rural development agencies will now report directly to Secretary Perdue, to ensure that rural America always has a seat at the table.
“This is right in line with the Executive Order that President Trump signed establishing a task force on rural prosperity,” Perdue added, “with me as the chairman.”
