WASHINGTON -- Agricultural leaders Wednesday praised President Reagan's nomination of Richard Lyng to be agriculture secretary, but some farmers and politicians feared Lyng would do little to ease the farm crisis.
Lyng received strong support from the agricultural establishment because of his access to Reagan, good relations on Capitol Hill, openness in dealing with friends and foes alike, and widespread respect for his broad experience.
Lyng, 67, is the first agriculture secretary from California, even though it is the nation's top farm state. Most have been from the Midwest.
Agriculture Secretary John Block, aMidwesterner who resigned Jan. 7 and will leave office Feb. 14, led accolades for Lyng.
'Dick served as my deputy secretary during four very tough years for agriculture and is a proven, experienced, highly capable individual,' he said.
Senate Agriculture Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., said, 'The challenge facing the agriculture secretary is to implement the provisions of the new farm bill in a way that will help restore profitability and prosperity to American agriculture. I share the president's confidence in Dick Lyng's ability to achieve that goal.'
Dean Kleckner, an Iowa farmer who is the new president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said, 'Facing the worst economic times in the history of American agriculture, farmers feel fortunate to have a respected man like Dick Lyng working for them in Washington.
'He is granted a wide array of discretionary powers under the new farm law. The Farm Bureau looks forward to working with him as he implements a farm program designed to improve net farm income.'
In another point of view, Rep. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said Lyng is very competent, but 'as long as President Reagan clings to his Herbert Hoover approach to farm policy, we're never going to straighten out this farm mess.'
