Former Farm Bureau president Craig Lang to run for Iowa ag secretary

Craig Lang, former president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, says he wants to help farmers find solutions to challenges the state's growers face — from tackling water quality problems to improving rural development.

Lang, 66, plans to run for Iowa agriculture secretary. Bill Northey, the state current agriculture secretary, has been nominated for a post at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Lang, a Brooklyn dairy farmer, said he will formally announce his plans once Northey is confirmed as USDA's undersecretary for farm production and conservation.

Northey, a Spirit Lake farmer, is expected to easily win confirmation.

Gov. Kim Reynolds will appoint someone to fill the ag secretary's job until the 2018 election.

State Rep. Pat Grassley, grandson to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, is among the leading contenders for the job. Sen. Grassley said he would strongly support his grandson.

Lang, who filed papers with the state ethics board, setting up his campaign organization, said he's undaunted by the younger Grassley's bid for the job.

It would bring greater voter attention to a job he sees as being extremely important.

The ag secretary leads the Iowa Department of Agriculture, a job that Lang said has the potential to touch every person in Iowa.

The agency's activities include ensuring consumers get the correct amount of gasoline they purchase at the pump — and that farmers are treated fairly when they bring grain to their local elevator.

Lang said he's a strong believer in using cover crops and adding diversity to Iowa's dominant corn and soybean rotation to help address the state's water quality problems.

Cover crops help hold the state's soil and nutrients — phosphorus and nitrogen — in place, so they don't degrade Iowa waterways.

Diverse crop rotation can cut weed and pest pressures.

"I want farmers to lead the discussion about cleaner water, working with our urban friends," Lang said.

Iowa growers need to find crops, in addition to growing corn and soybeans, that bring value, he said.

Lang, who is also a former president of the Iowa Board of Regents, said that will require tapping into the expertise at Iowa's universities.

"I believe diversification in agriculture is the real answer," he said. "I don't believe rotating half our state to soybeans and half to corn every year is sustainable."

"I'd like to create wealth through healthy Iowa soils," said Lang, who also served on the state's economic development board.