CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The federal Department of Agriculture secretary says he wants to be a partner with the nation’s foresters.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue made that point in Charleston during an appearance at the National Association of State Foresters annual meeting. The event included not only foresters from West Virginia but also all across America from Washington to Vermont.
“I consider our U.S. forests really as attributes and assets of our American taxpayer, and we want to be partners with our state foresters,” Perdue said in a crowded ballroom at the Charleston Marriott. “Whenever you see a forest fire, you have one team — and that’s what we want to enhance.
“I truly want to be good neighbors and good partners in making our forests productive, beautified and wildlife-friendly and great for citizens to enjoy. It’s part of God’s creation and we want to make sure we care for it as good stewards.”
Perdue, who comes from a Georgia farming family, was named the Trump administration’s Agriculture secretary this past May. He is an Air Force veteran, a former veterinarian, a former Georgia state Senator and a two-term governor of Georgia.
In Charleston, he spoke for about half an hour at the foresters association meeting and then participated in a roundtable discussion with West Virginia leaders such as state Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt. He also toured the “Green Mining” project, a former surface mine near Hernshaw now growing lavender plants.
Barry Cook, the director of the state Division of Forestry, said he was glad to hear Perdue’s message.
“The fact that he is changing the attitude to where federal and state works together is very important because that has, over the last 15, 20 years, that really has drifted apart to where there was a them and us situation.
“I’m really glad to hear the secretary wanting to pull it back together because it is a joint effort.”
Cook said cooperative efforts range from fighting forest fires and providing disaster relief nationally to supplying equipment to local volunteer firefighters.
Gov. Jim Justice has been promoting an idea since he was on West Virginia’s campaign trail last fall to push for a federal subsidy for the timber industry. Justice suggests the industry deserves a break because of the role forests play in reducing the impact of carbon emissions.
Asked about the idea that Justice says he has floated all the way to the White House, Perdue discussed other environmental aspects of forestry.
“I don’t know of any subsidy like that,” Perdue said, “but I do think when it comes to development, I think we need to make sure we’re careful not to develop all the land that contains our forests and our fields and the productivity of American agriculture.
“I think if we want to do that, if we want to buy down to development costs, I think that’s an appropriate use of federal help. If we want to help preserve land that needs to be remained in forest, where there’s a higher and better value use for it, we ought to consider that really as a national policy. If we expect private land owners to defer or to do away with their development rights then I think that is an appropriate federal contribution.”
Perdue said he would be listening to ideas by Justice, Leonhardt and others during his trip to West Virginia.
“What are the things on the ground that we can do to make our rural America prosperous again?” Perdue asked.
Perdue touted rural development programs within the Department of Agriculture.
“That is a resource for our rural communities, and West Virginia has taken advantage of that,” he said.
“Whether it’s community facilities, we’re working with West Virginia from a hospital perspective or if it’s other type buildings to help with the opioid crisis or rural utility facilities — water, telephone, electricity — or, most importantly broadband. Modern America needs connectivity, and you know the topography of West Virginia doesn’t lend itself to very good cell signal coverage. So we want to make sure we develop the technology that allows all of our citizens to be connected in that world.”
In Charleston, WV w/@StateForesters. Will push for Congress to fix “fire borrowing” in @forestservice budget. Can’t properly manage forests. pic.twitter.com/NiCUMQATBN
— Sec. Sonny Perdue (@SecretarySonny) September 20, 2017