ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 17, 2009

JOHNSON FORMALLY RESIGNS AS AG COMMISSIONER

BISMARCK – Saying that he greatly appreciates the opportunity to have served the citizens of North Dakota the past 12 years, Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson submitted a formal letter of resignation to Gov. John Hoeven at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 17.

The resignation is effective April 3.

Johnson said the decision to leave the office he has held since 1997 was very difficult.

“I am pleased, however, that I will be able to continue working for ag policy that will benefit North Dakota farmers and ranchers in my new position as president of the National Farmers Union,” he said.

Johnson was elected to lead the national farm group at its annual convention last week in Washington.

Johnson said the staff of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture is “among the very best in the country.”

“We have a variety of tasks, initiatives, activities and projects underway,” he said. “I know the staff will continue to carry out their responsibilities and do the same, high quality work for the new agriculture commissioner.”

Johnson told the governor that he would be in the office the week of March 30 through April 3, and would be pleased to assist with the transition to the person appointed to complete his term.

A native of Turtle Lake, Johnson grew up on his family’s farm, which he operated after graduating from North Dakota State University. He was administrator of the North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Service from 1989 to 1996, when he was subsequently elected agriculture commissioner. He was re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2006.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.

A Timeline of Events for Roger Johnson’s tenure as Agriculture Commissioner (pdf format)