In his first stop outside of the Beltway, newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue answered questions on topics ranging from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to rural broadband.

Perdue says after visiting with President Donald Trump, he is convinced "he understands the trade issue." He points to this week when Trump agreed to renegotiate NAFTA. "The president understands the benefits of NAFTA to some agriculture sectors," Perdue says. "Has it been even across the board? No, not necessarily." But he says farmers in the heartland know the benefits of trade going into foreign countries, and so does the president.

BROADBAND NEEDS: USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue knows that next generation of farmers and ranchers need access to broadband. "Kids in rural America need the same access to the world as those here in Kansas City," he says during a town hall meeting at the American Royal.

He says Trump pointed out to the premier of Canada and president of Mexico that NAFTA is a 23-year-old agreement. "It's time to look at it again," Perdue says. "Let's square it up and make it fair so that the American producers in agriculture and industry can benefit."

Having been in the grain business since 1976, Perdue is in awe of the president's negotiating skills. "I am glad he was able to get those two leaders to be serious about [NAFTA] and to tell Congress he is serious about it," he says. "Let's get on and renegotiate NAFTA."

Perdue spoke to roughly 350 people gathered at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo. He outlined some key objectives for the USDA in the coming months.

Interagency task force. Trump charged Perdue with leading the task force. He says his office needs to be working across agencies to ensure that American farmers and ranchers are protected. Perdue plans to help roll back erroneous regulations. "If it rains like today and trickles through the field, that is not the Waters of the U.S.," he says. "That is an opportunity for a waterway."

Death tax. "In my family, as farmers, you live poor and die rich," he says. Perdue hopes that in the coming weeks, multigenerational farm families will hear about some relief efforts in this area. "The president understands you want him to do something about the death tax."

Immigration and agriculture labor. When it comes to immigration for agriculture labor, Perdue says Trump has a different perspective. "He is concerned about the illegal criminals in this country," he says. "He is not concerned about the people working on the ranches and farms milking your cows and contributing to the prosperity of American agriculture and the American economy. Those are not the people he is after. He wants to see those harming the American people out of this country, and I am all for that as well."

Rural infrastructure. Perdue jokes when he says his grandson knows more about the features on his phone than he does. However, he admits it will be no laughing matter when it comes to kids returning to rural America. "We are not going to keep kids on the farm if they cannot get connected," he says. "We are a global world, and we need to be connected. We are committed to do that across this country." He has already had conversations with the Federal Communications Commission and says he is committed to seeing broadband expanded to rural America.

Perdue says when he took his oath of office it was an oath to God, to the citizens of the United States and to American agriculture producers. "I took an oath to do the very best work I can."