U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited the Citrus Expo in Fort Myers, Florida this week to learn more about citrus greening and hold a farm bill listening session with Congressman Tom Rooney of the local district.

The only opportunity for reporters to ask questions of the secretary was a short, crowded, disorganized gaggle that covered a wide range of non-agricultural topics. But I did get to ask him the first question – when does he expect to have a full USDA in place?

“The president has put forth some tremendous nominations and we are hopeful that as soon as the Senate gets back in session in September the ag committee will take these up,” the secretary said. “I’m the only presidential-appointed, Senate-confirmed person at the USDA today.”

You can listen my press gaggle question here: Interview with Secretary Sonny Perdue