Mike Johanns describes himself as “a farmer’s son with an intense passion for agriculture.” During more than 30 years of public service, Johanns worked tirelessly for Nebraska and America agriculture by serving as U.S. Senator, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Nebraska Governor, Lincoln Mayor, Lincoln City Council, and Lancaster County Board of Commissioners.
It is a great honor for me to make a few comments in tribute to Mike Johanns, one of Nebraska's best-known and strongest supporters of our state's and nation's agriculture and the natural resource systems it stewards. Tonight, we most fittingly honor him as the 2015 Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement Honoree.
From his early days on a northwest Iowa dairy farm through more than 30 years of public service, Mike has been an advocate for agriculture. He has been known for his principled leadership in many roles, including U.S. Senator, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Nebraska governor, Lincoln mayor, Lincoln city councilman, Lancaster County commissioner, and Lincoln attorney.
As U.S. Senator from 2009 to 2015, Mike brought his understanding of farming to Washington to help craft legislation to enable farmers to succeed, complete and excel, and to give them a voice on Capitol Hill. His common-sense legislation on a variety of agriculture-related issues benefitted the nation and the world as well as Nebraska. In July 2014 Mike received the American Soybean Association Soy Champion Award for his championship of farmers and for being well-versed in the realities of modern agriculture.
While on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Mike traveled to 16 countries to help create new trade agreements. Part of his efforts included working to strengthen ties with Asia-Pacific countries through the Trans-Pacific Partnership to open up a bigger market for agricultural products. He also was a member of the Senate Appropriations; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Veterans' Affairs and Indian Affairs committee.
Before being elected to the Senate, Mike was appointed the 28th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. In announcing Mike's nomination, President George H.W. Bush said he chose Mike for his support of ethanol and biodiesel and his knowledge of foreign trade, calling him "a man of action and of complete integrity." As USDA head from 2005 to 2007, Mike managed a $93 billion budget and directed 18 agencies employing 90,000 staff worldwide.
Just days after taking office, Mike began working with U.S. trading partners to reopen their markets to U.S. beef. After just one BSE-infected cow was found in the U.S. in 2003, 119 countries closed their markets. During his first year as secretary, he convinced nearly half of those countries to reopen their markets. He opened or increased access to 40 international markets and accomplished breakthroughs as a member of the World Trade Organization Doha Development Round.
An unprecedented achievement was Mike's development of a complete farm bill proposal based on 52 nationwide farm bill listening sessions conducted in 2005. He personally hosted 21 of those sessions to hear firsthand from producers what was working – and not working – in the farm bill. His proposal became the foundation for improvements and reforms adopted in the 2008 farm bill. Mike also contributed to the development and passage of the 2014 farm bill.
Mike led the effort to provide timely assistance to producers after the devastating hurricane season in 2005. He also promoted renewable fuels and expanded the USDA's commitment to natural resources conservation.
While serving as Nebraska's 38th governor from 1999 to 2005, Mike was an advocate for rural communities, farmers, and ranchers. He focused on tax relief; less government; and building a strong, statewide economy. His many accomplishments included $85 million dedicated to property tax relief.
Mike led seven delegations of agriculture, business, and government leaders on trade missions to Japan, Taiwan, China, Hong King, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brazil. His support was particularly evident during a period of depressed commodity prices and severe drought.
Mike created incentives for business growth and job creation and greatly increased the state's economic development efforts. He also merged two state agencies, the Department of Water Resources and the Natural Resources Commission, into the Department of Natural Resources.
While governor, Mike was critical of the USDA's policy of announcing "positive" or "inconclusive" results from cattle tests for BSE (mad cow disease) as part of the agency's expanded testing program.
"These tests are sensitive, and it's very possible that you put the results out and say it could be BSE and then find out it is not," he told the Associated Press in July 2004, shortly after two "inconclusive" results were announced. "In the meantime, you have had a tremendous impact on the market just like we have been seeing."
But he also stated his opposition to allowing private beef producers to do their own testing for the disease. "The marketplace, in my judgment, must be based on science-based information. Otherwise there just is no end to what you could burden this industry with." (Omaha World-Herald, April 4, 2004)
Science, he once said, is "the international language, so when we are able to convince countries that good decision making for human health and animal health is based upon science, that's a real success story for us."
While leading the state, he served as chair of the National Governors Association's Ethanol Coalition in 2001 and co-chair of the Biotechnology Partnership in 2003.
Prior to being elected governor, Mike served as mayor of Lincoln from 1991 to 1998. He was on the Lincoln City Council from 1989 to 1991 and the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners from 1983 to 1987.
Mike's education prepared him well for public service. After graduating from Osage Community High School in 1968, Mike received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 1971. He earned his Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law in 1974 and clerked for Nebraska Supreme Court Judge Hale McCown. After practicing law in O'Neill, Nebraska, for one year, Mike was a partner at Nelson, Johanns, Morris, Holdeman and Titus, a Lincoln law firm, from 1976 to 1991.
In addition to the Soy Champion Award, Mike's numerous honors and recognitions include the American Farm Bureau Federation Golden Plow Award, 2013; the National Corn Growers President's Award, 2009; the Distinguished Public Service Award, Agriculture and Food Transporters Conference, 2007; FFA Honorary American Degree; and Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Meritorious Service Award, 2006.
Mike's family includes his wife Stephanie Armitage Johanns, a former Lancaster County commissioner and Nebraska state senator; children Justin and Michaela; and five grandchildren.
Although he didn't stay on his family's farm, Mike never forgot his rural roots. During the press conference announcing his nomination as Secretary of Agriculture, he said:
"I'm very, very proud of my ag background. I do feel that those years on that dairy farm did much to define who I am as a person. In my campaign for governor, as a matter of fact, we ran a radio ad and it said, 'After growing up on a dairy farm, the son of John and Adeline Johanns, everything in life seemed easy after that."
Most assuredly what Mike accomplished wasn't easy. It took commitment, courage, tenacity, intelligence, and a lot of hard work.
On behalf of all Nebraskans, thank you, Mike, for all you have done for Nebraska agriculture, rural communities, and the nation. It is an honor to present to you the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement Honoree for 2015, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Senator Mike Johanns.
