House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said Thursday he doesn't plan to leave his post and, despite a lot of speculation, Peterson isn't a candidate for agriculture secretary in President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

"I don't know a thing about it," Peterson said after a hearing at the Capitol on credit swaps and derivatives. "I can't find out who is making the decision or what's going on. I have no idea. The only thing I know is this that I can tell you for sure, it will not be me. That's the only thing I can tell you. They keep bringing my name up, and I just, I have a lot of work to do here. I enjoy this job. It's important for me to stay where I'm at. There are a lot of other people out there they can find to be ag secretary. I told the Obama people if they want my advice I will give it to them on who I think it should be."

When asked by a fellow reporter about National Farmers Union President Tom Buis, Peterson said he thought Buis "would be a good candidate. He's somebody that really understands agriculture I think all the way around, in every region of the country."

Peterson said Buis has gone through the farm-bill process and has some understanding of how USDA works. Peterson added that he felt it was important that the administration bring in someone who understands USDA.

"One of the things that concerns me about whoever they pick is if you don't have somebody who has got a good knowledge of the department, they are going to eat you alive down there," Peterson said.

Peterson wants to reorganize USDA next year that will include emphasizing computer overhauls in major agencies such as the Farm Service Agency and the Risk Management Agency. Peterson said whoever takes the mantle at USDA needs to focus heavily on upgrading the computer systems and using software vendors that understand agricultural lending and risk management.

Peterson added that he also thinks there are serious changes needed at RMA, particularly regarding how overall policy is created at the agency and implemented between the headquarter in Washington and satellite office in Kansas City, Mo.

"But obviously we have to have an administration and a secretary interested in doing this as well," Peterson said.