Some of the names being floated as the possible Secretary of Agriculture include Indiana Farmer and recently retired Indiana Farm Bureau president Don Villwock who first learned he might be a candidate from his daughter who read an article on the Politico website.

Also listed are Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, former governors, Rick Perry of Texas, Sonny Perdue of Georgia, and Sam Brownback of Kansas, as well as current Ag secretary Sid Miller.

Tyson Food is replacing its chief executive as the largest U.S. meat company faces questions over its ability to maintain rapid profit growth, and broader market scrutiny over the way chicken is priced.

Tyson President Tom Hayes will take over from current CEO Donnie Smith at the end of this year as Tyson reported lower-than-expected quarterly profits and sales, and offered a downbeat outlook for earnings in the year ahead.

Hayes says the pricing questions didn’t factor into the CEO shift, and that Tyson’s prospects remain excellent.

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