Two days after Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a USDA post, Gov. Kim Reynolds has selected his replacement.

The governor announced today that she will name Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Deputy Secretary Mike Naig to replace Northey, citing a commitment to continuity and stability. The timing for the formal transition is still being finalized and will be announced at a later date.

“Mike Naig has been a dependable deputy for Bill Northey, serving since September 2013,” Reynolds said. “He has gained the experience, knowledge and staff connections necessary to complete Bill’s term through January 2019. I am pleased Mike has stepped up to serve his fellow Iowans in this elevated role.”

Naig will become Secretary of Agriculture upon Bill Northey’s resignation. He will serve the remainder of Northey’s term.

Naig congratulated Northey on his confirmation and thanked Reynolds for the opportunity to work with her and her administration to continue efforts to support Iowa’s dynamic agriculture industry.

“I have spent my entire career in agriculture and am inspired by the passion and commitment of the hard-working men and women who keep us fed and fueled,” Naig said in a statement. “I look forward to travelling the state as secretary to meet with and hear from Iowans to better represent their interests and be responsive to their needs.”

Naig said he’s committed to building on the momentum that has been created on water quality and accelerating adoption of conservation practices.

“With long-term funding now in place, we are positioned to build on the exciting progress that has already been made and scale-up our efforts to achieve the water quality goals we all share,” he said. “We must also continue working to build markets for the crops and livestock we raise so well here, including promoting renewable fuels and expanding international trade.”

Northey was confirmed on Tuesday by the U.S. Senate to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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