November 5, 2020

 

US Midwest agriculture sector could be affected by agriculture leader election loss

 


Some agriculture leaders said Democratic United States Representative Collin Peterson's election house, who is chair of the House Agriculture Committee, could negatively affect the Midwest grain belt, Reuters reported.

 

The leaders said Peterson's loss could move agriculture expenditure away from a region affected by the US-China trade war.

 

When selecting committee chairs in the US, ruling parties take seniority. This means senior House Democrats like Reps. Jim Costa of California, David Scott of Georgia and Marcia Fudge of Ohio could become the new chair of the agriculture committee.

 

Farmers in the Midwest raise swine, plus the majority of corn and soybeans in the country are grown here.

 

Laura Lemke, executive director of the Minnesota Grain & Feed Association, said the Peterson had a huge influence on the agriculture committee.

 

The House Agriculture Committee has authority over many agriculture and rural issues. These include the Farm Bill, nutrition and crop insurance, assistance during disasters and renewable energy.

 

Passed every five years, the current Farm Bill, which mandates a spending of US$428 billion, expires in 2023. The Farm Bill is discussed years in advance.

 

Heidi Heitkamp, former US Senator and a North Dakota Democrat, said Peterson understood the workings of the legislation and worked for a long time with Republicans.

 

Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute and a former USDA chief economist, said Peterson could be appointed at the US Department of Agriculture.

 

Peterson did not reply Reuters' requests for comment.

 

-      Reuters

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