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(AP) - President Bush on Wednesday nominated Edward
Schafer, a former two-term Republican governor from North Dakota,
to lead the Agriculture Department, which is hoping to influence
the outcome of a new five-year farm bill.

      "At every stage of his career, Ed has shown wisdom, foresight
and creativity," Bush said in the Roosevelt Room of the White
House. "Those same qualities will make him a valuable member of my
Cabinet and they will make him a trusted friend to America's
farmers and ranchers. His passion for agriculture has deep roots."

      Schafer, who chose not to run for governor again in North Dakota
in 2000, will replace Mike Johanns, who resigned as U.S.
agriculture secretary last month to launch a bid for the Nebraska
Senate seat being vacated by Republican Chuck Hagel at the end of
next year.


      Schafer, the grandson of Danish immigrants who farmed throughout
their lives, gained extensive agricultural experience while serving
as governor, from 1992 to 2000, in a state where nearly 25 percent
of its residents work as farmers and ranchers or are employed in
farm-related jobs.

      He was elected to his first term by a margin of 17 percent and
was re-elected to a second term four years later by a margin of 32
percent, becoming the first Republican governor elected to a second
term in North Dakota since the 1950s.

      "I realize that the mission of this agency goes far beyond the
services delivered, to the preservation of a way of life that I
believe is the foundation of this country," Schafer said.

      It was the second Cabinet post vacancy Bush has filled in two
days. On Tuesday, Bush nominated retired Army Lt. Gen. James Peake
to direct the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs, which is
strained by the influx of wounded troops returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan. Both nominations must be confirmed by the Senate.

      Schafer's selection comes at a crucial time for the Agriculture
Department, which is closely following - and hoping to influence -
congressional negotiations on a new five-year farm bill. 

There had
been speculation that Bush would keep Charles Conner, the acting
secretary and former deputy secretary, in place so the department
would not face reshuffling until the farm bill was signed by the
president.


      The administration has staunchly opposed congressional efforts
to keep current farm programs, including billions of dollars in
annual crop subsidies to farmers, in place.

 Under Johanns, Bush
threatened to veto the House version of the legislation. The Senate
is scheduled to debate its version of the $288 billion bill next
week.


      "With Ed's leadership, we will work with Congress to pass a
farm bill that provides farmers with a safety net, protects our
lands and the environment, and spends federal tax dollars wisely,"
Bush said.


      The White House highlighted Schafer's experience in directing
state response to eight disasters, including the historic flooding
and fire in Grand Forks, N.D., in 1997, which led to the evacuation
of tens of thousands of North Dakota residents.


      As governor, Schafer launched a pilot project using high-speed
telecommunications services to deliver education, health care and
economic development to help revive small rural towns. 

He also led
an agricultural trade mission from North Dakota to China in 2000 to
help open new markets for North Dakota farm products and oversaw
initial development of North Dakota's biofuel industries.


      Schafer, a businessman with little political experience, ran
both of his successful campaigns for governor on themes of job
creation and lessening North Dakota's dependence on energy
production and agriculture.

      He was president of the Gold Seal Co., a household products
company founded by his father, Harold Schafer, before the company
was sold in 1986.


      Schafer later founded Fish 'N Dakota, a fish farming business,
which used waste heat from a nearby power plant to raise tilapia.
The fish was shipped live to restaurants and other customers.

      The business had financial difficulties - including overdue
property tax payments, creditor lawsuits and a $326,204 loan
write-off at the Bank of North Dakota - that provided a stream of
unflattering headlines during much of Schafer's first term. At the
time, he was chairman of the Bank of North Dakota's board of
directors.

      He repaid the loan two years after it was written off in
December 1993, and settled his remaining creditor disputes.

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Edward Schafer, the grandson of Danish immigrants who farmed throughout
their lives, gained extensive agricultural experience while serving
as governor, from 1992 to 2000, of North Dakota where nearly 25
percent of its residents work as farmers and ranchers or are
employed in farm-related jobs.

Bush names former ND governor as ag secretary

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