All of Mitchell’s agriculture experience is from the government perspective. Mitchell, 51, chaired the standing committee on natural resources during his first term in office, authoring the Think Rural Report; a study intending to promote rural economic development.

In 1999, he became secretary of state for rural development and the federal economic development initiative for northern Ontario. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s northeastern region south director says Mitchell did a great job in that capacity.

"I know he’s going to be dedicated, but I don’t know how much he knows about the farming industry. We were promoting northern Ontario agriculture through his portfolio and he was doing a very good job," says Frank Giguere, who’s known Mitchell for 10 years. "Usually a good worker is a good worker wherever he is. I’ve hired people for 33 years, so I have a bit of experience in that field."

Mitchell, it seems, has left a good impression with most people he’s worked with. Ontario Cattlemen’s Association general manager Mike McMorris, says when he met with him last year Mitchell was very attentive to the issues in the cattle industry at that point and had a good ear for issues, such as streamside grazing, which is a big issue in the minister’s riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.

Mark Cunkul, a North Bay dairy farmer and OFA vice president for East Nipissing/Parry Sound/Muskoka, says Mitchell has been very involved in his riding.

"He’s been a benefit to every business in the community ever since he was elected. He’s up on the agricultural issues, I’m sure of that," says Cunkul. Mitchell, he says, made it a point to come to milk committee meetings every year and attended local Cattlemen’s Association meetings in the winter. People in Mitchell’s riding may be a little biased though, according to Renfew-Nippising-Pembroke conservative MP Cheryl Gallant.

"When Andy Mitchell was the minister for FedNor he was totally unsympathetic to rural issues, except when it came to getting money for his own riding," says Gallant. "Indifferent, that’s his mind set when it comes to agriculture. I really don’t think they (Liberals) are taking the plight of Canadian farmers very seriously.

"I believe they should have appointed someone who understands the family farm, not the one who calls in the loan," says Gallant. Mitchell was a banker for 20 years prior to first being elected in 1993.

Mitchell says, though he hasn’t farmed personally, he’s gained a lot of experience in government with the rural secretariat and dealing with agricultural issues in the cabinet, as well as meeting with producers in his rural riding.

Mitchell says there must be a two-part strategy -- looking at made-in-Canada solutions, such as increasing our cattle slaughter capacity, as well as pressuring the U.S.

"We have to continue to work with the U.S. and push the ag. states to reopen the border. We’re of the view that science dictates that’s the proper thing to do," says Mitchell, who plans to meet with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman this month.

McMorris, however, says Mitchell must do more than that.

"The assurance that the end result will be based on science is meaningless if you have to go through a process this long," he said.

Cunkul also says Canada must represent the best interests of Canadian farmers at the World Trade Organization meetings, where the focus has been on reducing worldwide agricultural subsidies.

"We haven’t had a minister that has stood his ground and dug in his heals at the WTO. We need someone with a backbone who is going to stand up for Canada’s supply management," says Cunkul, who milks 45-head.