Juanita Braun drove from her rural Bismarck ranch to her meat-packing plant in Harvey on Wednesday, just in time to pick up the phone.

Someone wanted to know what she thought of the big news.

"I'm really excited," Braun said. "You can tell from his time as governor that Ed Schafer has the desire and cares for the future of rural North Dakota. It was easy to see he loved this state."

President Bush on Wednesday nominated Schafer, the Republican governor of North Dakota from 1992 to 2000, to be his next secretary of agriculture. He was chosen to replace former secretary Mike Johanns, who resigned last month to pursue a Senate bid in his native Nebraska.

If confirmed, Schafer would be the third North Dakotan to hold a cabinet-level position. The selection came as a surprise to many ag officials, who said Schafer's roots could mean good things for the state.

"Ihadn't heard a whiff of a rumor about this at all," North Dakota Farmers Union President Robert Carlson said. "They held this one pretty close to the vest. I was surprised but pleased. This will be good for North Dakota. I think with his administrative skills, his business background, knowledge of agriculture and experience as governor, he'll be the best agriculture secretary we've had in this administration without a doubt."

To the northeast of Braun's North Dakota Branded Beef packing plant, Gene Nicholas was sitting in a meeting at a Leeds pasta plant on Wednesday. The former chairman of North Dakota's House Agriculture Committee said Schafer has already left his mark on the industry in the state.

"Ed Schafer means business," Nicholas, who farms near Cando, said. "He was supportive of bringing value-added ag ventures to North Dakota. I'm at a meeting right now at Golden Plains (Frozen Foods). This place happened on Ed's meter."

Nicholas said North Dakota could take advantage of another friendly ear in Washington when talking about expanding the state's ethanol, biodiesel and sugar beet industries.

The public-policy director for the North Dakota Farm Bureau agreed that Schafer's business background bodes well for him.

"He's a business man, he understands the importance of agriculture in this country, and also in the global market," Sandy Clark said. "This is exciting news for farmers and ranchers in this state."

Roger Johnson's first term as North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner coincided with Schafer's last term as governor. He said Wednesday's nomination was a good one.

"I think this is a good appointment for us, and it's a surprise," Johnson said. "I think most people in Washington felt that Chuck Connor had the inside track on the job; he's been the deputy, he's the acting secretary, he's been around for a long, long time. I think a lot of folks were surprised - pleasantly so."

Johnson said Schafer's familiarity with North Dakota's congressional delegation, who have each played a role in the drafting of the farm bill, is a positive for the state.

"The fact that they all know and have worked very closely with Ed Schafer as governor, I think bodes very well for at least getting in the door and having a good relationship at the outset," Johnson said. "And I think we all enjoyed a good relationship with Ed Schafer when he was governor."

Johnson said the new ag secretary, no matter who Bush would have chosen, will not have a lot of impact on the crafting of the farm bill. For the most part, he said, that time has passed.

"For all practical purposes, the farm bill is done," Johnson said. "What's going to be important with this position is once the bill is passed, then it has to be implemented, and that's where the secretary of agriculture really steps in in a pretty big way.

"… It's pretty nice to have Ed Schafer in a position where he can pick up the phone and call Kent Conrad or Earl Pomeroy or Byron Dorgan and say, 'You know, here's what we're thinking of doing, is this kind of what you had in mind?' Relationships are important in this business, and I think this is very good news for North Dakota."

(Reach reporter Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tony.spilde@bismarcktribune.com.)