Panel OKs agriculture nominee

AUGUSTA – The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation unanimously voted Monday to approve Newport farmer Seth Bradstreet III’s nomination as the state’s agriculture commissioner.

The vote came after nearly three hours of intense questioning peppered with good humor during his nomination hearing.

Bradstreet is a lifelong farmer, operating a 550-acre potato, grain, vegetable and turkey farm. He also has extensive public service experience, having served on the boards of Farm Credit of Maine, the Maine Potato Board, Mid-Maine Young Farmers, USDA Farm Service Agency, the SAD 48 board of directors and the Newport selectmen.

In lobbying for his friend, Rep. Joshua Tardy, R-Newport, said: “You can take his word to the bank. If he says he will give you 100 percent effort, he will. He is viewed by many in my community as a civic leader with great integrity.”

Tardy added, however, that it was Bradstreet’s background as a farmer that has the agriculture community’s support.

“He signs both sides of a paycheck,” Tardy said.

Bradstreet was quizzed on how he would address morale issues, whether he had enough “backbone” to be an effective department manager, how he would deal with the increasing international competition in agriculture and how to stem the continued decreased funding for the department.

Through his answers and the support of the Maine Dairy Industry Association, Maine Farm Bureau, Maine Harness Racing Association, the Maine Potato Board and farmers and others, Bradstreet indicated that he wanted to represent all areas of agriculture.

“Not one segment of agriculture is more important than any other,” he said.

Referring to Bradstreet’s background as a potato farmer, Don Flannery of the Maine Potato Board said that Bradstreet “doesn’t want to be the potato commissioner. We don’t want him to be the potato commissioner.”

Bradstreet acknowledged that “many questions have been raised about money, morale and direction in the Department of Agriculture. We will answer these questions and more.

“My goal is to make this department as transparent as possible,” he stressed. The nominee also said that by making agriculture a priority, he hopes to halt the continual erosion of agriculture funding.

When questioned about whether he had a “backbone” when it comes to management style, Bradstreet said, “I can assure you I know how to draw the line and plant my feet.”

Bradstreet also said that commodity agriculture is no longer a regional industry, but part of a worldwide economy.

“The East Coast market is declining, and there are by-products coming in from New Zealand,” he noted, adding that federal pressure needs to be applied and “Maine’s voice needs to echo in the halls of Washington.”

Several people testifying on Bradstreet’s behalf said he had great listening skills and an uncanny ability to bring people to the bargaining table.

When pressed about what his priorities would be, the Newport farmer said it would be meshing the needs and marketing of both local agriculture and commodity agriculture.

“We will devote ourselves to establishing a plan,” he said. “We need to know where we want to be and how to get there. We are going to promote agriculture. We are going to be cheerleaders for agriculture on all levels.”

No one testified in opposition to Bradstreet’s appointment. His nomination will now go to the Senate for ratification. Ned Porter, who has been interim commissioner since Robert Spear’s resignation last fall, will remain on as deputy commissioner.