By Clint Thompson
President Donald Trump’s re-election last week means a new administration for the next four years. That includes a new Secretary of Agriculture with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Tom Vilsack has served as ag secretary since 2021 under President Joe Biden. Trump’s first secretary of agriculture was Sonny Perdue. Now the question becomes, who will be next?
Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), explains the importance of the decision.
“I think it’s huge. We’re still looking to get a farm bill completed. We need to do that. But continuing to work with USDA to improve not only the safety net for crop insurance for specialty crop growers but other opportunities and programs that some of our row crop folks have available, making those programs available to specialty crops as well,” Butts said.
Some of the potential nominees include American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval, former House Ag Chairman Mike Conaway and Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller.
“I have heard lots of rumored possibilities for that post, I think what matters most to us is to have someone that understands Ag and hopefully understands the large role that specialty crops play within the ag economy,” Butts said.