Ag commissioner named

North Dakota s new ag commissioner reports for work This morning Hoeven announces who will be taking Roger Johnson s place Tonight Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin introduces you to your new Ag Commissioner Governor Hoeven andamp quot He has a real interest and a real commitment to be ag commissioner He didn t just wake up two weeks ago ans say gee I would like to be ag commissioner andamp quot This morning Governor Hoeven announces the 43-year-old Menoken Farmer Doug Goehring will be our new agriculture commissioner Hoeven says Goehring s farming and ranching background makes him a perfect fit for the job Governor Hoeven andamp quot Doug will bring new innovative creative ideas to the ag department and help move us forward in the future of agriculture andamp quot Goering ran against Johnson for agriculture commissioner in 2004 and 2006 Now he is finishing out Johnson s term The new commissioner s first order of business Dealing with the snowy and wet situations our producers are facing Doug Goehring New Ag Commissioner andamp quot IT S PSYCHOLOGICAL YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE GUYS ESPECIALLY OUT LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE RANCH PULLING CALVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WORKING ALL DAY LONG AND Psychologically THINK HOW THAT AFFECTS YOU MENTALLY YOU ARE THERE ALL THE TIME IT IS A STRESSFUL SITUATION IT IS STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT THE WEATHER IS NOT COOPERATING andamp quot Other top priorities for the new commissioner include promoting ethanol production wheat and cereal and grain research as well as improving crop insurance and trade 10 40 Doug Goehring New Ag Commissioner andamp quot A state like ours that exports two major commodities energy and food we need to be concerned about our infastructure andamp quot Today may be his first day but he says he s already planning to run for election in 2010 In Bismarck for KX News I am Sarah Gustin andamp quot Hoeven says 12 people were interested in the position Six were interviewed Goehring was the only one to have 2 interviews He will be making about 82-thousand dollars a year