NCGA
Applauds Senate Ag Committee Confirmation of Johanns as Agriculture
Secretary (01-07-05)
The Senate Agriculture
Committee on Thursday unanimously recommended that the full Senate
confirm Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns as the 28th secretary of agriculture.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) strongly supports the
nomination of Johanns, who has been a staunch advocate of ethanol
and other value-added agriculture.
During his confirmation
hearing before the committee Thursday, Johanns reaffirmed his commitment
to ethanol and explained how Nebraska became one of the nation’s
leaders in ethanol production.
“We decided to
make a significant investment as a state – in fact, I think
it’s something like $200 million over the next 10 years –
into ethanol,” said Johanns, a former chairman of the Governors
Ethanol Coalition.
NCGA President Leon Corzine
said Johanns’ testimony Thursday clearly illustrates why corn
growers overwhelmingly support his nomination as the next agriculture
secretary. “He’s on the same page with NCGA with the
things he’s done in his state,” Corzine said. “(His
testimony) really brings this to light with his specific mention
of ethanol.”
Johanns also discussed
other key issues of importance to corn growers during the testimony,
including the use of biotechnology in agriculture. “Technology
has revolutionized farming and biotechnology could open the door
to a more productive future,” he said.
Corzine said Johanns
will be a powerful voice for America’s farm sector because
of his thorough understanding of issues facing today’s producers.
“It’s going to be good for rural America because his
roots are here and he understands the issues,” he said. “He
grew up on a dairy farm in Iowa and then worked on those issues
in his political career as governor of Nebraska.”
In a letter sent this
week to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.),
NCGA endorsed the appointment of Johanns as secretary of agriculture
and encouraged the committee to support confirmation by the full
Senate. Full Senate confirmation is expected as early as Jan. 20.
To hear audio from Johanns’
confirmation hearing and comments from Corzine, click the ‘Listen
Now’ button.