Del.icio.us  Digg  facebook  MySpace  Twitter  Google  Bookmark Me  LinkedIn  StumbleUpon  Permalink

Schafer Nominated for Secretary of Agriculture

President Bush has nominated Ed Schafer, a former two-term governor from North Dakota, as the new Secretary of Agriculture. Schafer served as governor of North Dakota from 1992 to 2000, and was the first two-term Republican governor in the state's history. He replaces Mike Johanns, who resigned Sept. 20 to run for the Nebraska Senate seat available next year.

North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture Roger Johnson, who is also the president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, was pleased with the selection.

"I had the privilege of working with Ed for four years on the State Industrial Commission," Johnson says. "He is an able administrator, who knows how and when to delegate authority and to listen to the advice of experts."

Tom Buis, President of the National Farmers Union also praised the President for moving quickly to fill the position of Ag Secretary.

"Governor Schafer's experience as governor of North Dakota, a state with a strong agriculture economy, should be an asset as the next Secretary of Agriculture," Buis says. If confirmed, we look forward to working with Governor Schafer in improving the quality of life in rural America."

With debate on the 2007 Farm Bill scheduled for next week in the Senate, Buis says that Schafer's appointment comes at a critical time for agriculture. The administration is hoping to influence negotiations on the next farm bill during Senate debate and the conferencing with the House to work out differences in the two versions of the Farm Bill.

Schafer must be confirmed by the Senate before he takes over duties as the top official at USDA. Senate Agriculture Committee leaders Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., voiced initial support for Schafer.

"He has a strong background in public service, which will certainly be a valuable asset in his new role as Secretary," says Chambliss. "I look forward to getting to know Governor Schafer during the confirmation process and will work hard to fill this critical position for U.S. agriculture as soon as possible."