DENVER - Colorado Democratic Rep. John Salazar, one of the few farmers serving in Congress, says he may be under consideration for U.S. agriculture secretary.

Salazar issued a statement Wednesday saying, "I am humbled that I may be under consideration as a possible nominee."

He gave no details.

Salazar told The Denver Post he has spoken with members of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team but hasn't been interviewed by them.

If Salazar were to leave his congressional seat, Gov. Bill Ritter would be required to schedule a special election to be held within 90 days after the seat is officially declared vacant.

Democrats currently hold a 5-2 edge in the Colorado delegation in the House. Before Salazar won it in 2004, District 3 had been in Republican hands.

The district includes the western half of the state, plus Pueblo County and points south, including the Fort Carson's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site east of Trinidad.

Salazar hasn't been considered a top contender for the job. The names most often mentioned are Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union; former Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas; Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D.; former Rep. Jill Long Thompson, D-Ind.; Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff; and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, D-Kan.

Salazar, the brother of Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., has represented western and southern Colorado since 2004, when he was elected to replace retired Republican Rep. Scott McInnis. He won re-election to a third term last month.

John Salazar also served in the state Legislature.

He is a potato farmer and rancher in his hometown of Manassa in the San Luis Valley, about 180 miles south of Denver.

When Democrats gathered to nominate Obama at their convention in Denver this summer, Salazar was among those picked to address the delegates. He criticized the Bush administration for neglecting rural America and said Obama would "work hard on behalf of those who work the land."

"As a lifelong farmer, I stand here today and look out upon a silo of hope. It's stored up - it's ready for November. Ready for us to end this time of rural neglect, begin a time of endless promise," Salazar said.

In Congress, Salazar has opposed allowing Canadian beef to be imported into the United States and sponsored a bill to resume sending beef to Japan.