NGFA commends Senate for confirming Sonny Perdue as the next Secretary of Agriculture

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2017 — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today commended the U.S. Senate on its 87-11 vote confirming former two-term Georgia Gov. George E. (Sonny) Perdue III to serve as the 31^st secretary of agriculture.

“Secretary Perdue’s expertise, considerable experience in production agriculture, agribusiness and state government, and his ability to engage effectively with others will serve him and U.S. agriculture well as he assumes a leadership role within the administration on trade, the farm bill, regulatory overreach and other issues important to American agriculture,” said NGFA President Randy Gordon.

As the owner of three agribusiness and transportation firms serving farmers across the Southeast, Perdue had served as a member of the NGFA’s Board of Directors from 2014 until his nomination earlier this year.  He also had served as a member of NGFA’s Country Elevator Committee in the early 1980s.  He won election as Georgia’s governor in 2003 – the first Republican to do so in 135 years – and was reelected to a second term in 2006 with 58 percent of the vote.

After President Donald Trump nominated Perdue to lead USDA in January, the NGFA touted the former governor as an accomplished public servant, and the Senate Agriculture Committee later approved him on a strong, bipartisan vote.

The NGFA stressed that Perdue’s strong commitment to agricultural trade and recognition of the important role it plays in enhancing U.S. economic growth, job creation and the vitality of rural communities will be important as the administration begins renegotiating free trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, and reengages in Asia-Pacific trade discussions. Perdue also is a fierce advocate of regulatory reform and is committed to rolling back regulatory excesses within the federal government that have undermined the competitiveness and efficiency of America’s farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.

“We look forward to working with Secretary Perdue and his capable team as they ‘hit the ground running’ in addressing pending, current and future issues important to U.S. agriculture,” Gordon said.

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The NGFA, established in 1896, consists of more than 1,050 grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate more than 7,000 facilities and handle more than 70 percent of all U.S. grains and oilseeds. Its membership includes grain elevators; feed and feed ingredient manufacturers; biofuels companies; grain and oilseed processors and millers; exporters; livestock and poultry integrators; and associated firms that provide goods and services to the nation’s grain, feed and processing industry. The NGFA also consists of 29 affiliated State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations, and has strategic alliances with Pet Food Institute and North American Export Grain Association.