The nation’s second-largest farm advocacy group will need a new leader this spring. National Farmers Union announced Tuesday that president Roger Johnson will not seek another term as leader of the 200-thousand member organization. Johnson called his association with NFU a fundamental part of his identity.

Johnson says his top priority during his 11 years in office, and as he prepares to step aside, is to protect the future of family farmers and rural communities. He adds that NFU is well-positioned to keep doing just that.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson was first elected to the position in 2009, while he was serving as North Dakota’s Agriculture Commissioner. A new president will be elected at NFU’s annual meeting March first through third in Savannah, Georgia.