North Dakota Ag Connection - Hoeven: Perdue a Strong Nominee for Ag Secretary

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Hoeven: Perdue a Strong Nominee for Ag Secretary
North Dakota Ag Connection - 01/20/2017

Senator John Hoeven Thursday issued the following statement in response to President-Elect Donald Trump's selection of former Georgia Governor George "Sonny" Perdue as his Secretary of Agriculture.

"Sonny Perdue is an excellent choice for Agriculture Secretary. As a veterinarian, agricultural businessman and former governor of one the nation's leading agricultural states, he is exceptionally qualified for the job. Sonny grew up on a farm, so he knows the day-to-day challenges our farmers face. As a former governor, he understands the importance of agriculture for our nation's economy and our people and well-being. He also recognizes the need to work in a bipartisan way.

Sonny and I worked together as governors for eight years. He was not just a colleague, but a friend. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I look forward to working with him to craft a strong farm bill for our producers in the upcoming Congress."

As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee who has also served on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Hoeven has played a key role in shaping the nation's agriculture policy. He served on the conference committee that crafted the final farm bill of 2014.

Meanwhile, Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said, "America's dairy farmers are looking forward to working with Secretary of Agriculture-designate Sonny Perdue, whose role as the chief advocate for farmers and rural America is absolutely crucial in the new Trump Administration, especially when milk prices have been in a prolonged slump.

Mulhern noted that former Gov. Perdue is well-qualified to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a result of his eight years of executive experience as Georgia's governor, and his career as a state legislator and small businessman. His educational training as a veterinarian also gives him unique insights into the important issues facing America's livestock producers in the areas of animal health, food safety and the environment.

"Dairy producers, like most other farmers and ranchers across America, have experienced significant economic challenges for more than a year. Starting right away in 2017, NMPF will seek to collaborate with Secretary Perdue on ways to strengthen the safety net for dairy farmers, relieve regulatory burdens and enhance opportunities to keep and grow markets abroad for our dairy exports," Mulhern said, adding, "In particular, we will continue to advise the Agriculture Department on efforts to improve the dairy Margin Protection Program to best benefit America's dairy producers. We will also continue our dialogue with USDA and others in the Trump Administration on the importance of enforcing previous trade agreements, as well as pursuing future well-negotiated trade agreements that bolster our ability to serve consumers in foreign markets.

We're excited to work with Gov. Perdue on these challenges and opportunities in the days ahead."

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