11/1/2007 Ag Secretary Nominee

Ag Secretary Nominee. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Mike Johanns is planning on running for the Senate seat left open by Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel after he announced he wouldn't run for re-election. Acting Ag Secretary Chuck Conner has been guarding the post left by Johanns and now President Bush has announced a new candidate for the position, former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer. BUSH: Ed Schafer is the right choice to fill this post. He was a leader on agricultural issues during his 8 years as the Governor of North Dakota. He worked to open new markets for North Dakota farmers and ranchers by expanding trade with China. Nominee Schafer thanked the President. SCHAFER: I appreciate the confidence that you have in me and if I'm confirmed I'm looking forward to serving you and the people of the United States of America in your Cabinet as Secretary of Agriculture. Meanwhile Acting Secretary Chuck Conner agreed that Schafer will do a good job. CONNER: I do want to offer my whole hearted congratulations to Ed Schafer. I think he's going to be a great Secretary of Agriculture. He comes from a strong agricultural state and it's a state that's really about farming and ranching and those are important obvious qualifications for the job as Secretary of Agriculture. He comes in with a good working knowledge of American agriculture. He's also been involved as the President has pointed out on a number of trade missions promoting the products of the state of North Dakota and this is a critical, fundamental policy position for the Bush administration; the promotion of trade, the promotion of our trade agreement. I'm confident that Ed Schafer is going to step in and immediately contribute in terms of advocating for those agreements, advocating for the trade agenda put forth by the Bush administration. So we look forward to having him here, he's going to be a great Secretary of Agriculture. I personally look forward to working side-by-side with him to see the progress this agency is making  continue to roll forward and again he's going to be a very, very good Secretary of Agriculture. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo welcomed the nomination saying Schaefer's diverse background and experience will be beneficial in making it through the Senate confirmation process. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.