"USDA Undersecretary Nominee Withdraws"

"President Obama's nominee to lead the Forest Service and farmland conservation programs has withdrawn his name from consideration.

Homer Lee Wilkes, the Mississippi state conservationist and a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), was nominated in May as Agriculture undersecretary for natural resources and environment. The post directs the Forest Service and conservation projects at NRCS.

But Wilkes withdrew his name for personal reasons, the White House confirmed today."

Noelle Straub and Allison Winter report for Greenwire in the New York Times June 8, 2009.