President Trump still hasn’t named his agriculture representative
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
With two weeks until his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump has selected much of his cabinet – except for his Secretary of Agriculture.
Reports say a number of candidates, including former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue, current Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller and California’s former lieutenant governor Abel Maldonado, are potential candidates for the position.
But does it matter where the Secretary of Agriculture is from? According to some farmers, maybe it does.
Cannon Michael, whose farm in California’s Central Valley includes cotton and tomatoes, said having a California representative could help the White House understand the state’s agricultural needs.
“(It) would be good to have someone connected to California since we are unique in many ways,” he said. (It) definitely would not hurt.”
David Ocker, who farms in southern Texas, said the candidate, regardless of where they’re from, needs to understand trade.
“I would like to see someone who understands free market capitalism and can teach the virtues of the American system,” he said.
Heather Lindberg, a hog farmer from Iowa, said her sense of pride for the Secretary of Agriculture comes in how well they perform their duties.
“If they are good then I am proud,” she said. “It’s not merely that they are from here.”
Lindberg also said the person should have some background in agriculture if they are to hold the position. She points to current Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey as an example.
“(He’s) both Iowa’s ag secretary as well as an actual farmer. It’s like he’s double qualified.”