Bob Odom has controlled this department for 28 years and spent much of the past four years battling personal legal problems stemming from charges of public corruption.

He built, at taxpayer expense, a $56 million sugar mill in South Louisiana that has proven to be a bust, and tried to build a $135 million sugar cane syrup mill in Central Louisiana.

Odom has had his turn. It's time to go.

In his place, we endorse Mike Strain for commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

Strain, a state representative from Covington, is veterinarian and a cattle rancher. He understands the challenges facing Louisiana farmers, ranchers and timbermen and the issues important to the state's huge agriculture and timber industries.

Strain has served on the Rural Legislative Task Force and has been chairman of the Rural Caucus. He has good ideas related to property protection, market growth and tax credits; and, as a legislator who has voted on various fees, he knows which ones can and should be reduced or eliminated.

Mike Strain offers hope to an office and an industry that need it.