Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa
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{{Infobox official post
| post = Secretary of Agriculture
| body = Iowa
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| image = Mike Naig USDA photo.jpg
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| incumbent = Mike Naig
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| incumbentsince = March 5, 2018
| department = Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
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| type = Secretary of Agriculture
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| formation = 1923
| first = Raymond W. Cassady
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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
Image:Ethanol butler co iowa.jpg]]
The secretary of agriculture of Iowa is an elected position in government of the U.S. state of Iowa that was created in 1923 by the extra session of the 40th General Assembly. The secretary of agriculture heads the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, which is responsible for managing land and helping farmers in the state.[http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/whatWeDo.asp What Does The Department Do?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002030315/http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/whatWeDo.asp |date=October 2, 2009 }}. Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Accessed July 2, 2009.
Background
File:Iowa harvest 2009.jpg during the record 2009 season in Jones County, Iowa]]
Directly and indirectly, agriculture has always been a major component of Iowa's economy. However, the direct production and sale of raw agricultural products contributes only about 3.5% of Iowa's gross state product.Des Moines:Iowa Legislative Services Agency. [http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Fiscal/factbook/Iowa_Factbook_2007.pdf 2007 Iowa Factbook] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222023959/http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Fiscal/factbook/Iowa_Factbook_2007.pdf |date=December 22, 2009 }}. p. 59.
The indirect role of agriculture in Iowa's economy can be measured in multiple ways, but its total impact, including agriculture-affiliated business, has been measured at 16.4% in terms of value added and 24.3% in terms of total output. This is lower than the economic impact in Iowa of non-farm manufacturing, which accounts for 22.4% of total value added and 26.5% of total output.{{cite web|url=http://ideas.repec.org/p/isu/genres/10180.html|title=Multiple Measures of the Role of Agriculture in Iowa's Economy|work=Staff General Research Papers Archive |date=December 2002 |last1=Swenson |first1=David A. |last2=Eathington |first2=Liesl }}
Iowa's main agricultural outputs are hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, cattle, eggs and dairy products. Iowa is the nation's largest producer of ethanol and corn.{{Cite web |title=U.S. ethanol production capacity by state 2024 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/281486/leading-us-states-based-ethanol-production-capacity/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Statista |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Iowa Corn Facts and FAQs {{!}} Iowa Corn Growers Association |url=https://www.iowacorn.org/corn-facts-faq/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Iowa Corn |language=en-US}} Major Iowa agricultural product processors include Cargill, Inc., Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Monsanto Company, Ajinomoto and Hy-Vee.
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List of secretaries of agriculture of Iowa
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!# !! Picture !! Secretary !! Took office !! Left office !! Party !! Notes |
1.
| | Raymond W. Cassady | align="center"| 1923 | align="center"| 1924 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | |
–
| | R. G. Clark | align="center"| 1924 | align="center"| 1924 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Served only as interim Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa. |
2.
| | align="center"| 1924 | align="center"| 1933 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | |
3.
| | Ray Murray | align="center"| 1933 | align="center"| 1937 | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | |
4.
| | Thomas L. Curran | align="center"| 1937 | align="center"| 1939 | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | |
5.
| | Mark G. Thornburg | align="center"| 1939 | align="center"| 1943 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | |
6.
| | Harry D. Linn | align="center"| 1943 | align="center"| 1950 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | |
7.
| | Clyde Spry | align="center"| 1950 | align="center"| 1961 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Appointed upon resignation of Linn in June 1950. |
8.
| | align="center"| 1961 | align="center"| 1965 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Appointed upon death of Spry in June 1961. |
9.
| | align="center"| 1965 | align="center"| 1967 | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | |
10.
| | align="center"| 1967 | align="center"| 1973 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | |
11.
| 75px | align="center"| 1973 | align="center"| 1987 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | |
12.
| 75px | align="center"| 1987 | align="center"| 1999 | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | |
13.
| 75px | align="center"| 1999 | align="center"| 2007 | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | |
14.
| 75px | align="center"| 2007 | align="center"| 2018 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Resigned to become U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. | |
15.
| 75px | align="center"| 2018 | align="center"| Incumbent | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Iowa}}
{{Secretaries of Agriculture of Iowa}}
{{Current Iowa statewide political officials}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iowa Secretary Of Agriculture}}