USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue followed his townhall at the World Ag Expo last week with visits with farmers and tours of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley. "I need all the education I can get," Perdue said at Harris Woolf California Almonds facility in Coalinga, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times by Geoffrey Mohan.

Mohan spoke to the director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center, Dan Sumner, to understand Perdue's role in President Trump's administration. 

"When he say things to Trump, Trump can hear him saying, 'Be careful about your constituency. Unless you want to see Nancy Pelosi in power, you better see to the reelections in the Central valley," Sumner said.

One of the reelections is for Rep. Devin Nunez (R-Tulare), a strong Trump supporter who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump has to ponder whether he wants the Nunez or some Democrat leading the committee's Russia investigation, Sumner said.

Read the article: Trump 'gets what you're saying': Agriculture secretary talks immigration, water and food stamps on California tour

 

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