After stalemate, Northey confirmed for USDA post

Ending a long stalemate, the U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey to a top post in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On a voice vote, the Senate approved his nomination to become undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation at the USDA.

His confirmation came after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, lifted a hold of roughly four months on the nomination. And it occurred the same day that farm- and oil-state lawmakers met with President Donald Trump and others over possible changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard policy.

Cruz, a critic of the law, has been pushing for changes. His hold was seen as an attempt to gain leverage in the biofuels dispute, but Iowa Republicans had been pressuring Cruz - winner of the 2012 Republican presidential caucuses - to relent.

Trump nominated Northey on Sept. 1. The Politico news website first reported in late October 2017 that Cruz had placed a hold in the bid.

After the Senate's vote Tuesday, Iowa Republicans and farm industry groups praised Northey.

'Bill Northey is a talented, passionate, hardworking Iowan, and I am excited to see him serve in this new role,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement.

'For the past decade, Bill Northey has served admirably as Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture,” Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill said, pointing to his implementation of Iowa's voluntary nutrient reduction strategy.

In his own statement, Northey said he is honored by the approval.

'While this process has taken longer than expected, I remain as excited as ever to work with Secretary (Sonny) Perdue and the staff at USDA to support of our nation's farmers and ranchers,” he said.

Trump also had nominated another Iowan, Sam Clovis, for another top job at the USDA - one serving at the chief scientist. His nomination quickly drew opposition because of his lack of scientific training and questions over his stance on climate change. But he withdrew from consideration in November 2017 after being linked to a key figure in the investigation of Russian interference in the election.

Northey's exit from the Iowa agriculture department highlights a growing election contest to replace him this year.

The governor's office said she would appoint an interim after Northey submits his resignation.

Speculation immediately centered on Deputy Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, who has been responsible for policy, budget and personnel at the department.

He has been deputy director since September 2013. Before that, he was manager of state and local government affairs for Monsanto.

Naig grew up on a farm near Cylinder in northwest Iowa and is a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. He announced Feb. 1 he's exploring a campaign for AG secretary and would have to run in the June 5 GOP primary.

Craig Lang, a Brooklyn dairy farmer, and state Sen. Dan Zumbach, a Ryan farmer, Ray Gaesser, a Corning farmer and former president of the American Soybean Association, and Chad Ingels of Randalia, have announced their runs.

Democrat Tim Gannon, who worked for then-USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, also plans to run for the job.

James Q. Lynch of The Gazette contributed to this report.