Agriculture commissioner pick David Frederickson

The state's Department of Agriculture will be in new hands for the first time in 15 years.

Gov.-elect Mark Dayton has named former state Senator David Frederickson as the next agriculture commissioner.

Frederickson is a farmer from Murdock. He served as a state senator representing southwestern Minnesota from 1987 to 1993.

He'll take charge of the state Agriculture Department next month. He joined All Things Considered host Tom Crann on the phone.