February 2, 2017
The Honorable Pat Roberts
Chairman, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
Ranking Member, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow:
On behalf of the farmers, ranchers, hunters, forest owners, cooperatives, businesses, trade associations, and all other segments of the agriculture, food and nutrition, landscape, and conservation community represented by the undersigned, we write to urge your support for the expeditious confirmation of Sonny Perdue to be Secretary of Agriculture. We are looking forward to having his tested leadership and experience at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). There have been 30 Secretaries of Agriculture since the job was created in 1889, and though some were raised on a farm, only two actually lived and worked in agriculture as adults. If confirmed, Sonny Perdue will be number three.
Gov. Perdue has a proven record of effective governing and dedicated public service. Prior to his time as governor, he was a member of the Georgia State Senate for 10 years, being elected by his colleagues to serve a term as Senate President Pro Tem. As the 81st governor of Georgia, elected in 2002, he enacted meaningful ethics reform and reshaped state government. He engaged business leaders through the Commission for a New Georgia, and by 2010, Georgia was named Best Managed State in the Southeast. Governor Perdue served in 2006-2007 as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
Given his background of growing up on a diversified row crop and dairy operation in Central Georgia, his service in the United States Air Force, and his background in founding three agribusiness firms supplying services to farmers, Gov. Perdue is eminently qualified to lead USDA. Gov. Perdue was also a practicing veterinarian, and has a deep understanding of the issues important to animal agriculture. As the former governor of a state that produces billions of dollars in food, fiber, specialty crops, nursery crops, dairy products, poultry, and livestock each year, Gov. Perdue understands the critical role of feeding our country and the world. He is also keenly aware of the importance of agriculture in powering our nation’s economy, providing jobs from farm to table. Finally, Gov. Perdue has proved to be a dedicated servant of the concerns of rural America with a long history of supporting rural infrastructure, agricultural water use projects, and proper forest management. This experience, along with a personal understanding of the unique needs of rural America, will undoubtedly benefit him as head of USDA.
We appreciate your dedicated leadership to the nation’s agricultural community, and look forward to working with you as Gov. Perdue’s confirmation moves forward.
Sincerely,
4Earth Farms
A. Duda & Sons, Inc.
Advance Trading Inc.
African-American Farmers of California
Ag Georgia Farm Credit, ACA
AgChoice Farm Credit
AgCountry Farm Credit Services, ACA
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank
AgriBank, FCB
Agribusiness Association of Iowa
Agribusiness Council of Indiana
Agricultural Council of Arkansas
Agricultural Retailers Association
Agri-Mark, Inc.
AgStar Financial Services, ACA
Alabama Agribusiness Council
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association
Alabama Farmer's Federation
Alabama Forestry Association
Alabama Nursery & Landscape Association
Alabama Peanut Producers Association
Alaska Farm Bureau
All Fresh GPS
Allen Lund Company LLC
Allenberg Cotton Co.
Almond Alliance of California
AMCOT
American AgCredit
American Agri-Women
American Association of Crop Insurers
American Bakers Association
American Bankers Association
American Beekeeping Federation
American Beverage Association
American Cotton Shippers Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Forest and Paper Association
American Forest Foundation
American Forest Resource Council
American Frozen Food Institute
American Mushroom Institute
American National CattleWomen
American Olive Oil Producers Association
American Peanut Council
American Peanut Product Manufacturers, Inc.
American Peanut Shellers Association
American Pistachio Growers
American Pulse Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Sesame Growers Association
American Sheep Industry
American Society of Animal Science
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
American Sugar Cane League
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Wood Council
AmericanHort
Animal Health Institute
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Archery Trade Association
Arena Packaging, LLC.
Arizona Cattle Feeders
Arizona Cotton Ginners Association
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation
Arizona Grain, Inc.
Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association
Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
Arkansas Forestry Association
Arkansas Rice Council
Arkansas Rice Farmers
Arkansas Rice Federation
Arkansas Rice Growers Association
Arkansas Soybean Association
Associated Milk Producers Inc.
Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc.
Association of Consulting Foresters
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Attebury Grain
Baldor Specialty Foods
Barrett, Easterday, Cunningham & Eselgroth LLP
Bayer
BBC Land, LLC
Beachner Grain, Inc.
Belair Produce, Inc.
BiNational Softwood Lumber Council
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Black Gold Farms
Black Hills Forest Resource Association
Bongards’ Creameries
Boone and Crockett Club
Bunge North America
Cabbage, Inc.
Caito Foods, LLC.
Calcot
Caledonia Farmers Elevator Co.
California Ag Irrigation Association
California Alfalfa and Forage Association
California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers
California Association of Wheat Growers
California Bean Shippers Association
California Cattlemen’s Association
California Cherry Export Association
California Citrus Mutual
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association
California Forestry Association
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Giant, Inc.
California Grain and Feed Association
California Pear Growers Association
California Rice Commission
California Seed Association
California Specialty Crops Council
California State Beekeepers Association
California State Floral Association
California Strawberry Commission
California Warehouse Association
California Wool Growers Association
Calorie Control Council
Campbell Global, LLC
Canfor Southern Pine
Cape Fear Farm Credit
Cargill, Incorporated
Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative
Castellini Group of Companies
Catch-A-Dream Foundation
Catchmark Timber Trust, Inc.
CGB Enterprises, Inc.
Charles M. Farms, LLC
Chemstar Corp.
Choptank Transport, Inc.
Co-Alliance
CoBank
COFCO Agri Ltd.
Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
Colorado Dairy Farmers
Colorado Farm Bureau
Colorado Livestock Association
Colorado Potato Administrative Committee
Colorado Sorghum Producers Association
Colorado Timber Industry Association
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association
Conservation Forestry Partners
Cooperative Milk Producers Association
Corn Refiners Association
Cortland Bulk Milk Producers Cooperative
Cotton Warehouse Association of America
Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports
Countryside Cooperative
Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau
Crop Insurance Professionals Association
Crop Protection Association of North Carolina
CropLife America
Crunch Pak
Dairy Business Association
Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative
Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Producers of New Mexico
Dairy Producers of Utah
Dallas Safari Club
Delta Council
Delta Waterfowl
Demeter Lp
Dole Berry Company
Dow AgroSciences
Ducks Unlimited
Due South Investments, LLC
DuPont
Earthbound Farm
Eastern Meat Packers Association
Elanco Animal Health
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery
Empire State Forest Products Association
Enzyme Technical Association
Equipment Dealers Association
Expera Specialty Solutions
Far West Agribusiness Association
Farm Credit Bank of Texas
Farm Credit Council
Farm Credit East
Farm Credit of Central Florida
Farm Credit of Florida
Farm Credit of Northwest Florida
Farm Credit of the Virginias
Farm Credit Services of America
Farm Credit West
Farm Fresh Direct of America
Farmer's Best International L.L.C.
Farmers Elevator of Goodwell
Farmers Grain Terminal, Inc.
FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative
Federal Forest Resource Coalition
FFF Farms
Field Fresh Foods
First District Association
Florida Cattlemen’s Association
Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Farm Bureau Federation
Florida Forestry Association
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association
Florida Peanut Producers Association
Florida Sugar Cane League
Florida Tomato Exchange
Foremost Farms USA
Forest Investment Associates
Forest Landowners Association
Forest Resources Association
Forestry Association of South Carolina
Four Seasons Produce Family of Companies
Freedom Freight & Logistics LP
Frey Farms
Frieda’s, Inc.
Frontier Farm Credit
Gavilon
Georgia Agri-Business Council
Georgia Agritourism Association
Georgia Bankers Association
Georgia Cattlemen’s Association
Georgia Cotton Commission
Georgia Farm Bureau Federation
Georgia Forestry Association
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Georgia Green Industry Association
Georgia Milk Producers, Inc.
Georgia Peanut Commission
Georgia Pecan Growers Association
Georgia Pork Producers Association
Georgia Poultry Federation
Georgia Rural Water Association
Georgia Urban Agriculture Council
Georgia Watermelon Association
Georgia/Florida Soybean Association
GeorgiaBev
Giustina Resources
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Global Forest Partners LP
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
Green Crow
Green Diamond Resource Company
GreenWood Resources, Inc.
Greenyard USA
Greg Leger Farms, LLC
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Grower-Shipper Association of Central California
GROWMARK
Hancock Natural Resource Group
Hardwood Federation
Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association
Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council
Hearst Forests
Heart of Georgia Peanut and Gin Company
Heeren LLC
Heinzen Manufacturing International
Houston Safari Club
Huber Resource Corporation
Idaho Cattle Association
Idaho Dairymen Association
Idaho Forest Group
Idaho Potato Commission
Idaho Woolgrowers Association
Illinois Beef Association
Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association
Illinois Green Industry Association
Illinois Soybean Association
Imperial Sugar Company
Independent Bakers Association
Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas
Indiana Beef Cattle Association
Indiana Corn Growers Association
Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association
Indiana Sheep Association
Indiana Soybean Alliance
Infant Nutrition Council of America
Intermountain Forest Association
International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses
International Dairy Foods Association
International Food Additives Council
Intertribal Agriculture Council
Iowa Cattlemen’s Association
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa Soybean Association
J&J Family of Farms
J.D. Heiskell & Co.
J.M. Longyear
JAB Produce
Jamestown Timberlands
JBS USA
Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association
Kansas Cotton Association
Kansas Farm Bureau
Kansas Grain and Feed Association
Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association
Kansas Livestock Association
Kansas Sheep Association
Kansas Soybean Association
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association
Kentucky Forest Industries Association
Kentucky Soybean Association
Keweenaw Land Association, LTD
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer's Association
KiVAR Chemical Technologies
Lakeside Produce Distribution, Inc.
Land Improvement Contractors of America
Land O'Lakes Inc.
Landmark Services Cooperative
Landus Cooperative
Leger & Son, Inc.
Lewis Taylor Farms
Linn & Associates
Livestock Marketing Association
Lone Rock Resources
Lone Star Milk Producers
Lotscher Agri Service Inc.
Louis Dreyfus Company, North America
Louisiana Cotton & Grain Association
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Louisiana Farm Bureau Rice Advisory Committee
Louisiana Forestry Association
Louisiana Independent Rice Producers Association
Louisiana Rice Growers Association
Louisiana Rice Mill
Louisiana Rice Producers' Group
Maine Arborist Association
Maine Forest Products Council
Maine Landscape & Nursery Association
Mann Packing Company, Inc.
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association
Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association
Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers
Massachusetts Forest Alliance
Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc.
Mastronardi Produce
McEntire Produce
Mead Johnson Nutrition
Merrill & Ring
Michael Cutler Company
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Michigan Agricultural Commodities
Michigan Bean Shippers
Michigan Cattlemen’s Association
Michigan Farm Bureau
Michigan Forest Products Council
Michigan Milk Producers Association
Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association
Michigan Sheep Producers Association
Michigan Soybean Association
Michigan-California Timber Company LP
Mid-West Dairymen's Company
Milk Producers Council
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
Minnesota Grain & Feed Association
Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association
Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association
Minnesota Soybean Association
Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
Mission Produce, Inc.
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Mississippi Peanut Growers Association
Mississippi Rice Council
Mississippi Soybean Association
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association
Missouri Corn Growers Association
Missouri Farm Bureau
Missouri Rice Council
Missouri Soybean Association
Missouri Wine and Grape Board
Molpus Woodlands Group
Monsanto Company
Montana Stockgrowers Association
Montana Wool Growers Association
Mount Joy Farmers Cooperative Association
Mountaire Farms, Inc.
Mouzin Brothers Farms, LLC
Nagel Farm Service
National Alliance of Forest Owners
National Association for the Advancement of Animal Science
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Association of Federal Veterinarians
National Association of Landscape Professionals
National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
National Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils
National Association of State and County Office Employees
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Association of State Foresters
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Automatic Merchandising Association
National Barley Growers Association
National Black Growers Council
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Chicken Council
National Christmas Tree Association
National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research
National Confectioners Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Cotton Ginners' Association
National Cottonseed Products Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Crop Insurance Services
National Farmers Union
National Grain and Feed Association
National Grocers Association
National Lamb Feeders Association
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Onion Association
National Peach Council
National Pest Management Association
National Pork Producers Council
National Potato Council
National Renderers Association
National Restaurant Association
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Shooting Sports Foundation
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association
National Turkey Federation
National Watermelon Association
National Wild Turkey Federation
National Wooden Pallet and Container Association
National Woodland Owners Association
NatureFresh Farms
Nebraska Agri-Business Association
Nebraska Cattlemen
Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
Nebraska Grain and Feed Association
Nebraska Soybean Association
Nesei Farmers League
Nestlé USA
Nevada Wool Growers
New England Vegetable & Berry Growers' Association
New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation
New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association
New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association
New Mexico Cattlegrowers Association
New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau
New Mexico Sorghum Association
New Mexico Wool Growers Association
New York Farm Bureau
New York Soybean Association
New York State Vegetable Growers Association
Nisei Farmers League
North American Export Grain Association
North American Meat Institute
North American Millers' Association
North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association
North Bay Produce, Inc.
North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association
North Carolina Cotton Producers Association
North Carolina Forestry Association
North Carolina Potato Association
North Carolina Sheep Producers Association
North Carolina Soybean Association
North Dakota Stockman's Association
Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance
Northern Seed Trade Association
Northwest Dairy Association
Northwest Farm Credit Services
Northwest Grain Growers, Inc.
Northwest Horticultural Council
Nourse Farms
Nutrition Council of America
Ohio AgriBusiness Association
Ohio Cattlemen’s Association
Ohio Dairy Producers Association
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association
Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association
Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association
Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association
Oklahoma Sorghum Association
Oklahoma Soybean Association
Oneida-Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Association
Oregon Association of Nurseries
Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
Oregon Dairy Farmers Association
Oregon Potato Commission
Oregon Sheep Growers Association
Oregon Small Woodlands Association
Oregon Women in Timber
Oregonians for Food & Shelter
Organic Trade Association
Pacific Coast Fruit Company
Pacific Egg and Poultry Association
Pacific International Marketing
Pandol Bros., Inc.
PennAg industries Association
Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Pennsylvania Forest Products Association
Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association
Pero Family Farms
Pheasants Forever
Pingree Association
Plains Cotton Cooperative Association
Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
Pollinator Partnership
Polymer Logistics
Pope Resources
Port Blakely Companies
Potandon Produce
Potato Growers of Idaho
Potlach Corporation
Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
Premier Milk Inc.
Premier Produce
Pro Citrus Network, Inc.
PRO*ACT, LLC
Produce Marketing Association
Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association
Public Lands Council
Quail Forever
Quality Deer Management Association
Railway Tie Association
Rayonier Inc.
Resource Management Service, LLC
Rice Producers of California
Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers
Robinson Fresh
Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association
Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
Safari Club International
San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton Growers Association
Scioto Cooperative Milk Producers' Association
Seald Sweet
Select Milk Producers, Inc.
Sid Wainer & Son
Sierra Pacific Industries
Smithfield Foods
SNAC International
Society for Range Management
Society of American Florists
Society of American Foresters
Soil and Water Conservation Society
Solutions From the Land
South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association
South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
South Carolina Peach Council
South Carolina Sheep Industries Association
South Carolina Specialty Crop Growers Association
South Dakota Agri-Business Association
South Dakota Dairy Producers
South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation
South Dakota Grain & Feed Association
South Dakota Soybean Association
South Louisiana Rail Facility
South Texas Cotton & Grain Association
Southeast Milk, Inc.
Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, Inc.
Southeastern Gin and Peanut
Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association
Southern Cotton Growers, Inc.
Southern Crop Production Association
Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association
Southern Specialties
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
Southwest Georgia Farm Credit
Soy Transportation Coalition
Soyfoods Association of North America
St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, Inc.
Staplcotn
Starker Forests, Inc.
Stewart Grain Co., Inc.
Stimson Lumber Company
Stratford Grain Co.
Strube Celery and Vegetable Co.
Sun World International
Sunburst Farms
Superior Pine Products Company
Sweetener Users Association
Swiss Valley Farms
Syngenta North America
Team Marketing Alliance
Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association
Tennessee Forestry Association
Tennessee Soybean Association
Texas Ag Industries Association
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Texas Citrus Mutual
Texas Cotton Ginners' Association
Texas Forestry Association
Texas Grain and Feed Association
Texas International Produce Association
Texas Nursery & Landscape Association
Texas Rice Council
Texas Rice Producers Legislative Group
Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association
Texas Sorghum Producers
Texas Soybean Association
Texas Vegetable Association
The Conservation Fund
The Fertilizer Institute
The Forestland Group
The Langdale Company
The Lyme Timber Company
The Produce Mom LLC
The Sugar Association
The Wenger Group
The Westervelt Company
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Tillamook County Creamery Association
Timberland Investment Resources, LLC
Torrey Farms, Inc.
TRC Trading Corporation
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Cattlemen's Association
U.S. Dairy Export Council
U.S. Dry Bean Council
U.S. Industrial Pellet Association
U.S. Pecan Growers Council
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
U.S. Premium Beef, LLC
U.S. Rice Producers Association
United Dairymen of Arizona
United Egg Producers
United Fresh Produce Association
United Poultry Growers Association
Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.
US Sweet Potato Council
USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
USA Rice Federation
Utah Onions, Inc.
Utah Wool Growers Association
Valent USA Corporation
Vermont Woodlands Association
Vidalia Onion Business Council
Village Farms International, Inc.
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Virginia Cattlemen’s Association
Virginia Forestry Association
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association
Vita Plus
Wada Farms Potatoes
Wagner Forest Management
Warrior MFG LLC
Washington Cattle Feeders Association
Washington Cattlemen’s Association
Washington Farm Bureau Federation
Washington Forest Protection Association
Western Agricultural Processors Association
Western Growers
Western Peanut Growers Association
Western Wood Preservers Institute
Westlake Produce Company
Weyerhaeuser Company
Wheeler Brothers Grain Company, LLC
Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine
Wildlife Mississippi
Willacy Co-op
Wisconsin Agri-Business Association
Wisconsin Alliance of Forest Owners
Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association
Wisconsin Soybean Association
WoodWorks - Wood Products Council
Wyoming Stock Growers Association
Zeeland Farm Services
Zia Milk Producers, Inc.