WASHINGTON — President Bush on Wednesday nominated Edward Schafer, who served two terms as governor of North Dakota, to head the Department of Agriculture, an agency with a broad mandate ranging from administration of the federal food-stamp program and aiding economic development in rural America to enhancing food safety.
Bush called Schafer a natural candidate for the post, given his farm roots and experience as an entrepreneur and governor of a state where nearly a quarter of the workers hold agriculture-related jobs.
The grandson of Danish immigrants who farmed the North Dakota plains, Schafer will seek confirmation as Congress is moving toward passing a new $288 billion farm bill. The Senate version of the bill, passed out of committee two weeks ago, would make modest changes to subsidy programs intended to provide financial security to farmers.
The five-year farm measure also covers a vast array of agriculture-related issues, including research on new biofuels and fish farming.
Bush will rely on Schafer to help with trade negotiations and to help open foreign markets to U.S. agricultural products.
The 61-year-old Schafer is being nominated to replace former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who resigned last month.
