DFL Gov.-elect Mark Dayton tapped a seasoned agriculture expert with deep political ties to become the state's next agriculture commissioner.

David Frederickson, former president of the Minnesota Farmers Union and now is U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar's head of agriculture outreach, will take over a department with 450 people with a budget of nearly $170 million.

"Dave Frederickson will be a tremendous Commissioner of Agriculture," Dayton said in a statement. "He brings a deep commitment to public service and to improving our state's critically important agriculture economy."

The state agriculture department oversees food safety duties, enforces laws relating to fertilizers and pesticides and regulates crops and native plant species. Frederickson will replace Gene Hugoson, who was first appointed in 1995 by then-Gov. Arne Carlson

Before working for Klobuchar, Frederickson, a former state senator, was president of both the Minnesota Farmers Union and National Farmers Union. He was also a fourth-generation family farmer.

"I am honored and privileged to serve the people of Minnesota," said Frederickson, 66. "Governor-elect Dayton has a deep understanding and commitment to agricultural issues, and I greatly look forward to assisting him in keeping Minnesota's agricultural community strong and prosperous."

Frederickson pledged to keep partisan politics out of the office. He expressed a deep respect for Hugoson, a Republican who served in the Legislature with him.

"I came in from the D side and he from the R side, but we are old friends," Frederickson said.

He said recent agriculture commissioners have taken a non-partisan approach to the office, as well.

"I certainly like politics, it's great fun," he said. "But when it comes to the lives of farmers and ranchers across Minnesota, I don't believe partisan politics should play any role at all."

Frederickson is Dayton's second commissioner-level appointment. Dayton said he would keep the current transportation commissioner, Tom Sorel.