Bill Northey, former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, dead at 64 [Video]

URBANDALE, Iowa — Bill Northey, the former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and an advocate for Iowa farmers, passed away at the age of 64. 

“Bill was a tireless advocate for agriculture and a beloved leader for the entire AAI staff and organization,” the association said. “As we mourn the loss of our close colleague, we also extend our prayers for his family in this difficult time.”

Northey was the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture for over a decade from 2006 to 2018. He went on to serve as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2018 to 2021. 

“Bill was a great leader whose work ethic and passion for Iowa agriculture was unmatched,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds in a statement. “Iowans and farmers around …