Oct 15, 2007

Conner Takes Over as Head of USDA

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Charles Conner became acting secretary of agriculture Sept. 20, following the resignation of Mike Johanns, who had been agriculture secretary almost three years.

Johanns, who resigned as governor of Nebraska to take the top USDA job in January 2005, will campaign for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, who said he would not run for that office next year.

Conner, who grew up on a farm in Indiana, has been a figure in Washington, D.C., for many years. While some criticized Johanns for stepping aside before the new Farm Bill is passed, Conner has been involved in crafting the bill from the beginning, and was a major force in drafting the 2002 Farm Bill, when he was working for the White House.

“I can assure you that I leave the farm bill finalization in supremely capable hands,” Johanns said in his resignation letter to President George Bush. “Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner has been intimately involved in the deliberations – from the development of our proposals to his attendance at virtually every hearing during the House mark-up. Few people are as knowledgeable and insightful about farm bill policy.”

“Johanns led USDA during an exciting time for American agriculture,” said Bob Stallman, president of American Farm Bureau. “He leaves USDA at a time when prices are favorable and demand for our farm products is strong, but there is also much work for his successor to tackle as farmers continue to face soaring production costs and barriers to our exports. He gave the administration a credible voice and an enhanced level of influence on all fronts related to America’s farmers and ranchers, including the farm bill.”

Johanns got good marks from vegetable industry leaders.

“He has been a strong advocate for a lot of the issues we have dealt with,” said Robert Guenther of the United Fresh Produce Association.

The Bush administration’s Farm Bill proposal contains about $5 billion for programs important to specialty crops producers.