President Bush made a surprise nomination for Secretary of Agriculture Wednesday afternoon – a little-known former governor from North Dakota, Ed Schafer.
In making the announcement, Bush said, “Ed Schafer is the right choice to fill this post. He was a leader on agricultural issues during his eight years as the governor of North Dakota. He worked to open new markets for North Dakota farmers and ranchers by expanding trade with China. He oversaw the development of the state’s agricultural biofuels industry. He helped families recover from natural disasters — including drought, fires and floods. And he pioneered innovative programs to increase economic opportunity in rural communities.”
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Ranking Republican Member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said, “I am pleased the President has nominated former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer to lead the Department of Agriculture. He has a strong background in public service, which will certainly be a valuable asset in his new role as Secretary. 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.â€
There had been little speculation about who Bush might nominate to serve out the remaining months as agriculture secretary in his administration as many believed Acting Secretary Chuck Conner would get the job considering the importance of the current farm bill negotiations.