House Ag Committee Leadership to Change

Farm Futures reports that, as House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas looks to step down as chairman at the end of the year, he is expected to remain on the committee. One likely successor is Rep. Mike Conaway, (R-TX), who currently chairs the subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. Conaway has been campaigning since last November, encouraging GOP leadership to consider him for the next chair. Another potential contender is Rep. Steve King, (R-IA).

The Committee’s ranking member, Collin Peterson, (D-MN), said whoever takes the lead as chairman shouldn’t get ahead of themselves and start formulating the next farm bill. Peterson said he made the mistake of quickly heading out for field hearings shortly after the 2008 one cleared. He said the early hearings last time around were “premature and counterproductive.”