WASHINGTON, D.C. — New USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue started his tenure last week by calling on USDA employees to treat farmers and consumers across America as their customers. He hit the ground running, meetingwith President Trump and farmers in aroundtable then, later in the week, withmembers of Congress to discuss agricultural concerns.

 

“The USDA across the nation has a great reputation we want to be even better,” he told his employees. “Making sure thatAmericans who make their livelihoods in the agriculture industry have the abilityto thrive will be one of my top priorities. I am committed to serving the customers of USDA, and I will be an unapologetic advocate for American agriculture.”

 

He wants to make the focus of the USDA “getting stuff done,” because there are people depending on its employees.

 

“I was a farmer first, and we’re going to get comfortable in working clothes,” Perdue said, before he paused to remove his jacket and tie.

 

His goal is to make the USDA the bestrun, best-managed, best-regarded agency in the country, with the best reputation.

 

He wants the USDA to feel like a family that welcomes in the customer and does its best to help. “Families don’t always agree, but we always come back to the point of understanding and making the best decisions for the family at large,” he said. “If we’re wrong, we’re going to admit we’re wrong and change and do better.”

 

He wants the USDA to remove obstacles. He wants to use science and sound environmental policy.

 

“At the USDA we’re going to do everything, everything, with the highest degree of ethical behavior, integrity and transparency. I want you to be able to come to me and say ‘I think we’re on the wrong track.’”

 

He said he plans to develop relationships worldwide to be able to sell and trade American food and fiber. He alsosaid Americans expect a safe food supply and the USDA is going to continue to make sure that happens.

 

“I believe in the people of the USDA getting things done that will make a difference in the lives of the people that we serve … our consumers across the world,” he said. “That’s the vision we want to have for the USDA, starting here.” 

 

He said before his confirmation, he met with 75 senators and heard that trade policies are important. He noted “producers have been so productive … we have a lot that we need to sell.”

 

Perdue was born on a dairy and row crop farm in Georgia. He studied veterinary medicine and served in the military before returning to Georgia. He was in agribusiness before he became a state legislator and later, governor.

 

Perdue was nominated for secretary the day before Trump’s inauguration but the FBI background check and paperwork did not get turned into the Senate until the beginning of March. He used his time to meet with senators individually and answer questions.

 

The New York Times has reported 13 ethics complaints against Perdue related to the time he was governor. The Environmental Working Group reported Perdue signed state tax legislation that gave him a $100,000 tax break on a land deal. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said she spoke with Perdue in an individual meeting and asked him about the ethical concerns at that time. She said she was satisfied with his answers. It was reported that Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was concerned about Perdue’s views on policy toward Cuba, but was reassured after a personal call from the nominee.

 

Roughly 600 agricultural industries, organizations and individuals offered  support for Perdue, including six former agricultural secretaries. He was confirmed by a Senate vote of 87-11. 

 

Ricardo Salvador, senior scientist and director of the food and environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, was among those opposed to Perdue’s nomination. He said Perdue is quintessential “Big Ag” and can be expected to work for agribusiness interests, cut incentives for conservation on farms that keep land and water viable and ignore worker demands for better wages and protection.

 

“Perdue has a tremendous opportunity to boost rural economies and improve the lives of all Americans by responsibly investing taxpayer money to support farmers, farm workers and rural communities, while producing healthy food to meet growing domestic demand and safeguarding our natural resources,” Salvador said after Perdue’s nomination.