U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was in West Michigan in early February to meet with Michigan farmers. As reported by MLive.com, he told farmers that the new Farm Bill, which will be hashed out this year before the current legislation expires this fall, will have “evolutionary instead of revolutionary changes.” Perdue conveyed a warning for welfare recipients who have grown dependent on federal food assistance programs “as a lifestyle.” The farm bill, which includes food assistance to the poor, will send a message to “able-bodied” recipients who make public assistance their lifestyle, said Perdue.

Perdue, who was appointed by President Trump last year, answered questions and heard comments from farmers including concerns dealing with access to crop insurance programs and how the North American Free Trade Agreement has and will affect them. Purdue also introduced a new USDA web site, Farmers.gov, that claims to provide American farmers with “one-stop” access to government programs.