Johanns leaving? Conner in?

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns declined to say Sept. 13 at the WPPC whether he would run for the Senate seat vacated by Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. However, the AP is reporting that Johanns may make the announcement he will quit his USDA post to run for the Senate as early as Monday. I put a call in to Johanns spokeswoman Terri Teuber but she did not pick up this afternoon.

Johanns will go down as one of the most produce-friendly heads of the USDA ever. It is regrettable he apparently won't see through the publishing of final rule for the agency's WIC program that will add vouchers for fruits and vegetables to food packages. He also won't be on hand, at least in official capacity, for the signing of the 2007 farm bill Here is the audio link to his recent Sept. 13 speech at the WPPC.

One Washington lobbyist said Johanns was strongly encouraged to run because he is the strongest Republican in the field,. Since Republicans already look like they are in trouble in the 2008 elections, Johanns entry gives them a better position for the Hagel seat. While some may criticize him for not seeing the farm bill through, Johanns has to quit now and start raising money for the race, the lobbyist sai.

The lobbyist said there will be a short term extension of the farm bill this year that will be a part of a continuing resolution. That won't be a problem, but any long term extension of the farm bill would be a setback.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner is expected to become acting Secretary of Agriculture when Johanns resigns, the lobbyist speculated. He may serve out the term in acting capacity. Conner was the White House point man on the 2002 farm bill, and has detractors among Southern senators because of the Administration's push for subsidy limitations that impact cotton and rice producers. Conner has been no great friend of specialty crops in the past, but he will likely try to build on the foundation that Johanns has laid.
Conner does appreciate the fact that the assistance that specialty crop interests are seeking is WTO green box compliant and trade friendly.

Here is the bio for Conner:

Charles F. Conner was sworn in as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture on May 2, 2005, by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.Prior to his tenure at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mr. Conner served on the National Economic Council beginning in November 2001 as a Special Assistant to the President for Agricultural Trade and Food Assistance, focusing primarily on Farm Bill issues.From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Conner was President of the Corn Refiners Association, Inc., a national trade association representing the corn refining industry. Prior to his tenure with the Corn Refiners Association, Conner held several staff positions with the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Mr. Conner served as both the Majority Staff Director (1995-1997) and the Minority Staff Director (1987-1995), of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. He also worked as a Professional Staff Member for the Committee from 1985 to 1987. Prior to joining the Senate Committee in Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Conner worked as an Agricultural Legislative Assistant to Senator Richard G. Lugar.Mr. Conner grew up on a family farm in Benton County, Indiana, which remains in the family and is operated by his older brother, Mike.Mr. Conner received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in 1980. He is married and has four children..