06/08/07 Hammon leaving FSA

For the past six years Wayne Hammon has been the Idaho Director for the Farm Service Agency but that will end at the end of this month. HAMMON "I'll be moving over to state government and be going to work in the Division of Financial Management." Idaho FSA employees are civil servants but Hammon, like all other state directors, was appointed to his job. A government veteran who has worked for Senators Orrin Hatch and Larry Craig, Hammon is accustomed to dealing with federal programs and millions of dollars. It will suit him well as Governor Butch Otter's chief budget officer. HAMMON "But from the governor's point of view I'll be handling all the budget requests and working with the legislature to make sure all the important programs in state government get funded." US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will eventually pick Hammon's successor for the Idaho FSA director's job. The Idaho congressional delegation is involved at the end of the process. HAMMON "When they have a nominee what they'll do is they'll go to Senator Craig, Senator Crapo, Congressman Sali, and Congressman Simpson and ask for them to sign off on it. Its not an actual formal confirmation process though." Applications are now being taken by USDA. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott