Trump nominates Sonny Perdue for Agriculture Secretary: http://www.wsj.com/articles/agriculture-secretary-nominee-sonny-perdue-known-for-promoting-trade-1484844335 Farmers are hoping Mr. Perdue will continue the efforts of his predecessor at the USDA, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, to keep U.S. grain, produce, meat and cotton flowing to foreign markets when the U.S. farm economy is suffering through a multiyear downturn. They also are hoping Mr. Perdue will shield U.S. agricultural exports from any potential fallout as Mr. Trump looks to renegotiate existing trade deals and strike new ones.Perdue has a PhD in veterinary medicine. He was Georgia’s first Republican Governor (2003-2011).