PANUPS: A New Secretary of Agriculture

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PANUPS: A New Secretary of Agriculture

Fri, 04 Feb 2005 14:59:59 -0800

 

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P A N U P S

Pesticide Action Network Updates Service

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A New Secretary of Agriculture

February 4, 2005

 

Last week, former Nebraska governor Mike Johanns assumed the post of

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Born on a dairy farm, Johanns hails from a

state that is fourth in the nation in agricultural exports and which,

under his tenure, made significant export advances in Asia. Johanns

takes the helm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the nation's

agricultural imports grow to equal agricultural exports for the first

time in

50 years.

 

Johanns' nomination was hailed by agricultural trade organizations,

including the National Food Processors Association and the Biotechnology

Industry Organization, which said, " We look forward to working with

Governor Johanns to provide farmers, consumers and the environment

with the

benefits of agricultural biotechnology. " Sustainable farming and

environmental groups saw the selection of Johanns as more of the same.

" As a

former corporate leader, Secretary Veneman did little to make our

hazardous, pesticide-based food system healthier, fairer or more

sustainable, " said Skip Spitzer, of Pesticide Action Network North

America.

" Secretary Johanns will likely continue the administration's efforts

to open

agricultural markets without restraining the market-distorting food

giants that rule the food system. "

 

 

In 2003 Johanns reignited controversy in Nebraska when he called for

loosening of the state's 22 year-old ban on corporate farming. The ban

originated as a citizen initiative by the Nebraska Farmers Union and a

coalition of family farm advocacy groups to protect family farms, and has

withstood repeated lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. Johanns

contended that it stifled agricultural growth in Nebraska and proposed

a " Gubernatorial study, " that was defeated in the state legislature.

John Hansen, of the Nebraska Farmers Union, saw the attack on the ban as

a defining moment for Johanns. " He showed his hand for the first

time... It showed he was on the side of big business, not the small

farmer. "

 

 

While governor, Johanns successfully promoted Nebraska agriculture in

trade delegations to many Asian countries. During his tenure Nebraska

exports to China more than doubled, from $US 51 million in 1999 to $US

110 million in 2004. Trade was the focus of several questions from

reporters during Johanns' first press conference. The new Secretary of

Agriculture promised " to do everything I can to reopen trade " in

negotiations

underway with Japan to allow import of U.S. beef after BSE (Bovine

Spongiform Encephalopathy or Mad Cow Disease) appeared in the U.S.

Johanns

declined, however, to say he would advocate increased BSE testing of

U.S. cattle.

 

 

As Governor of Nebraska, Johanns was also closely involved in the

drafting of the 2002 Farm Bill. As Secretary of Agriculture he will

oversee

the drafting of the next Farm Bill, due in 2008, in which major funding

cuts are expected. Johanns suggested that he would be bound by these

budget constraints when asked if he would increase funding for the

Conservation Security Program. The program is strongly supported by

environmental and wildlife conservation groups who have also

complained that it

has not been adequately funded.

 

 

Like many others in the Bush Administration, Johanns is a deeply

religious person and has been criticized by civil liberties groups for

displays of religious favoritism as an elected official. Johanns signed a

proclamation declaring " March for Jesus Day " in 1999 and later endorsed

" Back to the Bible Day " in honor of a fundamentalist Christian group. He

refused, however, to sign a proclamation honoring " Earth Religion

Awareness Day, " an event that was oriented toward pagan religion and

organized by a Wiccan group, saying that he would not sign " something

that I

personally disagree with. "

 

 

Sources: " New Agriculture Secretary Viewed as a Surprise Choice "

December 16, 2004, Southwest Farm Press " A Farm-Raised USDA Choice. "

Washington Post, December 16, 2004; " Neb. Governor Tapped as

Agriculture Chief,

USA Today, December 3, 2004; Protecting Initiative 300, Center for

Rural Affairs, http://www.cfra.org, Transcript of Tele-news Conference

with

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, Washington DC, January 24, 2005,

USDA.

Contact: PANNA

 

 

We encourage those interested in having resources listed in the PANUPS

Resource Pointer to send review copies of publications, videos or other

resources to our office.

 

PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and

reporting on pesticide issues that don't always get coverage by the

mainstream media. It's produced by Pesticide Action Network North

America, a

non-profit and non-governmental organization working to advance

sustainable alternatives to pesticides worldwide.

 

You can join our efforts! We gladly accept donations for our work and

all contributions are tax deductible in the United States. Visit

http://www.panna.org/donate.

 

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Email: panna

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