U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue swore in Bill Northey as Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service on Tuesday evening at an Iowa AG Leaders Dinner in Des Moines. Northey’s job will encompass the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Risk Management Agency, under USDA’s reorganization. Northey was confirmed by the Senate on March 2.
“I applaud Bill Northey’s patience over these many months, which demonstrates what a strong leader he will be at USDA. We thank everyone who worked on his confirmation. Bill will come aboard at a crucial time, as his knowledge and expertise will be immediately put to use as the new Farm Bill is formulated to address the needs of American farmers,” Secretary of Agriculture Perdue said in a statement. “I am excited to finally have Bill on board,” Perdue said in a statement.
Bill Northey, a fourth-generation corn and soybean farmer, is a former president of the National Corn Growers Association and served in state and local roles for the Iowa Farm bureau. He served as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture for more than 11 years.
