So the straight talking Brummie Lord Rooker has stepped down from his post as junior DEFRA minister in Gordon Brown's latest reshuffle. While his departure is over shadowed by the Prime Minister's more audacious move to bring Peter Mandelson back to the Cabinet, for farming Jeff Rooker's departure is a big deal.
He is that rare breed - a plain speaking Government man who says it as it is and who has listened and supported the industry well. Often described as "a farmer's friend", Jeff has been prettty vociferous in farming's favour on the major issues, most memorably for action over bovine TB. He was prepared to get out on farms and understand the real issues on the ground and he pushed hard up the line to influence Benn's thinking.
Jeff had a lot of experience with the farming brief because he also served as a junior minister for the old MAFF from 1997-99 where he presided over the BSE fallout. The word on the block in recent times was that he became a frustrated man, particularly disappointed by Hilary Benn's procrastination on key decisions.
He's not the only one. DEFRA's indecision on farming matters and its lack of a coherent policy on food and agriculture is causing widespread concern. We'll need new advocates within Parliament now if the message is going to sink in.
It is difficult to know at this stage whether the introduction of the new Energy and Climate Change Department will help or hinder things. One could argue that the split of these twin issues from DEFRA allows for greater focus on them and lightens the load for a beleaguered department that was struggling to cope with such a wide ranging brief. Perhaps now DEFRA will be better organised and able to concentrate on mainstream production matters. They've got no excuses now not to get on with it.
In principle, Farmers Weekly supports the need to give energy and climate change greater resource but, like the Country Land and Business Association, we expect the crucial role lfarmers play in creating renewable energy options and mitigating the effects of climate change will not be overlooked now the issues are split between departments.
Finally, Jeff Rooker you will be greatly missed in farming but maybe we can find a way of keeping you involved in some shape or form in the future? The industry needs strong champions and to lose one of his calibre is a great pity.