DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Northwest Iowa farmer Bill Northey has been elected to a third term as Iowa’s agriculture secretary. Voters Tuesday elected the Republican Northey over Democrat Sherrie Taha, a sculptor from Des Moines. Northey, who farms near Spirit Lake, has served as agriculture secretary since 2008.

In his campaign, he called for continued implementation of a voluntary water quality initiative that encourages Iowa farmers to prevent erosion and minimize fertilizer and manure runoff. He also supports promoting technological advances to farmers that will make them more efficient and able to use less fertilizer.