DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that he will be holding town meetings in Poweshiek and Benton Counties on Thursday, July 16 as part of his effort to visit each of Iowa’s 99 counties again in 2009 to meet with Iowans and discuss agriculture and the issues facing farmers in the state.

Northey will be hosting town meetings at the Farm Bureau offices in Brooklyn and Vinton.

“I’ve learned from the meetings I’ve attended in each of the counties over the past two years and I’m sure this year will be no different,” Northey said.  “It’s a challenging time on and off the farm and I’m excited to hear from Iowans about the issues facing agriculture.”

The details of the visits follow here:

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Poweshiek County – 11:30 a.m., Farm Bureau Office, 125 Jackson St., Brooklyn
Benton County – 2:00 p.m., Farm Bureau Office, 1105 W. 9th St., Vinton

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are the opportunities in renewable energy, conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.