Former Governor Ed Schafer says he's ready to help change the face of Rural America.

Schafer, who's now the U.S. Agriculture Secretary, is in the position to to just that.

Today he shared his message on issues affecting Rural America with those who work to improve rural North Dakota.

Donnell Preskey has more on Schafer's speech...

U.S. Secretary Ed Schafer gets a hometown welcome..

(Ed Schafer / U.S. Secretary of Ag) "it's great to be home"..

Most of the people in this room have heard Schafer speak before afterall he was our governor for eight years..

However today his message is much bigger he has a vision for all of america..

(Ed Schafer) "The U.S. is the premiere player on the global stage." Schafer says this year U.S. Ag exports are expected to reach a record 109 Billion dollars. North Dakota exports 50% of it's ag products overseas

(Ed Schafer) "For our american producers to succeed in foreign markets, they need that even playing field. Free trade agreements make that possible." But not all trade is free for our producers... (Schafer) Ag products coming in from Columbia come in with no tarrif, no duty, on the other hand our ag products we ship to columbia carry tariffs from 10,20 up to 70 percent of extra costs to put our products into that country

President Bush has sent a free trade agreement to Congress but they've failed to act on it and in that time the U.S. has paid 1.2 Billion dollars in fees tacked onto U.S. products

(Schafer) "...say what not supposed and say call congressman.".

Schafer says he's gotten a few calls from the White House saying they're not used to a Secretary talking so freely... He's been given some restrictions... However he does openly talk about the future of renewable fuels. (Schafer) "it's time to take big step in development of this industry to look beyond Corn and Soybean to new energy feed stocks like switchgrass and orange peels." And there's a demanding goal ahead of Schafer and his USDA staff The U.S. is to produce 36 Billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022

(Schafer) my background and experience in ND has really helped me deliver the responsiblities of Secretary of USDA...

Schafer says since 2001 USDA has invested $1.5 Billion in North Dakota's rural infastructure for housing, community facilities and businesses. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list