President Donald Trump sent new Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue straight to work yesterday morning, issuing an executive order calling on the former governor to promote American agriculture and eliminate unnecessary regulations that harm rural communities and hamper their economic growth. As chair of the new Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, Perdue will work with more than 20 other top administration officials to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that can promote American agriculture.

Of interest to IDFA member companies, the executive order asks the task force to look for ways to “improve food safety and ensure that regulations and policies implementing federal food safety laws are based on science.” It also aims to “encourage the production, export and use of domestically produced agricultural products.”

In addition, the executive order directs the task force to advance adoption of agricultural innovations and technology, increase employment opportunities and preserve family agribusiness.

“A reliable, safe and affordable food, fiber and forestry supply is critical to America's national security, stability and prosperity,” said President Trump in the order. “It is further in the national interest to ensure that regulatory burdens do not unnecessarily encumber agricultural production, harm rural communities, constrain economic growth, hamper job creation or increase the cost of food for Americans and our customers around the world.”

Read “Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America.”

For more information, contact Dave Carlin, IDFA senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy, at dcarlin@idfa.org.