Iowa ag secretary Northey endorses Jacobs

CEDAR RAPIDS - Other candidates may have more hands-on experience on the farm, but Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has endorsed the Republican U.S. Senate hopeful who he says best understands the business of farming.

Former energy company CEO Mark Jacobs has his 'complete support,” Northey said at a Thursday campaign stop with Jacobs at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

'Make no mistake about it, this is a huge race not only for Iowa, but for the country,” Northey said.

In endorsing Jacobs, Northey said it was important to elect someone who understands the business of agriculture. In Iowa, that includes $30 billion in sales of farm products plus the processing of grain and livestock and farm equipment manufacturing.

'His experience as a businessman, someone who has made payroll, somebody who has saved jobs and protected jobs, somebody who understands the challenges of business and how the federal government can so easily overreach into our businesses and cause lots and lots of issues” were the basis of his endorsement, Northey said.

'He is someone who we can depend on to do the things the way we want them down the road. We need somebody we can depend on,” Northey said.

By the end of the day, State Sen. Joni Ernst's campaign had countered with the endorsements of former Iowa Farm Bureau presidents Ed Wiederstein of Audubon and Craig Lang of Montezuma.

'She really is the best of all worlds for the people of Iowa,” Wiederstein said. 'Her experience and background make her the best choice to represent our state. I don't know what else we could want.”

Lang said Ernst is the only candidate in the five-way race for the GOP nomination who shares his passion for 'growing and enhancing agriculture and rural communities.”

Northey acknowledged the merits of the others seeking the GOP nomination.

'While there are many good candidates in the field, I know Mark is conservative and a man of principle,” Northey said. 'He has the integrity and a work ethic that would make any Iowan proud.”

Jacobs, who said he was 'humbled” by Northey's endorsement, conceded that he doesn't have the farm experience of Ernst, who has advertised that castrated pigs while growing up on the farm.

'At the end of the day,” he said, 'I'm a business guy. Agriculture is about the business of growing crops and providing food for families not only in Iowa but all across the world.”

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