New federal agriculture chief named

Former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner was named the acting secretary of agriculture by President George W. Bush.

The appointment comes due to Secretary Mike Johanns”™ resignation to pursue a U.S. Senate seat next year in his native Nebraska.

Prior to his tenure at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 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, Conner was president of the Corn Refiners Association Inc., a national trade association.

Prior to his tenure with the Corn Refiners Association, Conner held several staff positions with the Senate committee on agriculture, nutrition, and forestry.

During a conference call with reporters last week, Conner discussed, among other things, the need for continued federal support for the food stamp program.