Northern Plains Ag Groups are hailing Senate confirmation this week of Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey as USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says they’ve been waiting for the confirmation for some time. He says Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue was handicapped not having Northey in place to handle many of the duties at USDA.

VanderWal says the hold on Northey’s confirmation was inappropriate but the main thing is now that’s been settled and the former Iowa Ag Secretary can now get to work at the USDA.

Both the South Dakota and Nebraska Farm Bureau groups are pleased with the confirmation as well as biofuel groups Growth Energy and POET.