Many issues facing California farmers, from the Food Safety Modernization Act to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the 2018 Farm Bill, came to the forefront as United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, a former farmer and veterinarian, made his first appearance in the state at a forum hosted in Modesto on Sunday, Nov. 5. From dairymen and walnut growers to the California Almond Board and various farm bureaus, a number of people took part in Secretary Perdue’s question and answer session at a town hall meeting hosted by the California Farm Bureau and held at the Modesto Junior College Agricultural Pavilion. Perdue sought input from farmers on the issues they’re challenged with and also sought additional input for the Farm Bill.