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WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.– The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) joined in calling on the U.S. Senate to confirm Sonny Perdue as the 31st secretary of agriculture before beginning a two-week spring recess on April 7.

US Ag Sec_Sonny Perdue_Photo courtesy of Georgia.Gov
Sonny Perdue

The Senate Agriculture Committee voted and approved recommending confirmation of the former two-term Georgia governor to the full Senate.

“U.S. farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses – and the consumers we serve – need the strong, capable leadership at USDA that Governor Perdue will provide,” the AFBF and NGFA said. “He is a dedicated, accomplished, innovative, problem-solving and proven public servant, and we need him at the USDA to begin addressing a backlog of policy issues that are awaiting his attention and to begin the process of filling key positions within the department. It also is vital to have Governor Perdue engaged fully within the administration and with Congress on international trade, farm bill and regulatory issues affecting U.S. farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.”

Perdue was Georgia’s governor from 2003 to 2011, and was the first Republican elected to the office in 135 years. He has a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Georgia, and was a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Following his service, he became a small business owner, focusing on agribusiness and transportation.

He was a Georgia State Senator for 11 years, and left in 2001 to start his campaign for governor.

Perdue has the bipartisan support of six past agriculture secretaries, the AFBF and NGFA noted, as well as the support of nearly 700 agriculture groups from across the nation.