Yesterday we received news from the White House stating President Trump authorized emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas after those states were impacted by widespread wildfires. This was followed by news from USDA’s Acting Deputy Secretary Michael L. Young, who issued the memorandum. This news reminds us we are still without leadership at the USDA. Will we see Sonny Perdue confirmed this week?

I sat down with American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Vice President Scott VanderWal to hear the latest talks on when Senate will complete President Trump’s cabinet.

“We are pushing really hard. We feel we need Mr. Perdue in place before Easter recess, which begins on Friday. If we don’t get it done this week we will have to wait another two weeks and that would be a shame.”

When it comes to policy issues related to agriculture, talks are happening and decisions need to be made. “We have so many things going on right now. Immigration, issues with the farm bill and of course international trade. We are trying to help the Trump Administration understand what some of the rhetoric with Mexico and Canada means to U.S. agriculture. The last thing we want to have is a disruption in trade.”

Listen to Scott’s complete comments on the confirmation of Perdue and what top priotiies will need to be discussed once he finally is able to lead the USDA here: Interview with Scott VanderWal, AFBF