Opinion: Big Ag could lose two powerful D.C. politicians -- here's what that could mean for farm subs
Presidential elections cycles often have little or no relevance for federal farm subsidy programs. This year may be different.
Representative Colin Peterson (D-Minn.), the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and a titan when it comes to farm subsidies, is in the re-election fight of his life, apparently 10 points down in his race against Michelle Fischback, a well-known Republican candidate. Fischback has consistently emphasized her strong support for Minnesota farmers, though if she wins, she is unlikely to have much influence on agricultural policy as a freshman.
Simultaneously, Michael Conaway (R-Texas), a major supporter of farm subsidies and the ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, is retiring. Conaway and Peterson have a long history of brokering bipartisan farm policy deals, defending and expanding lucrative sugar programs for Minnesota sugar beet growers and more favorable cotton and wheat subsidies for farmers in the Texas panhandle.
The potential departure of both politicians, who have been steadfast supporters of farm interests, has many agricultural lobbying groups concerned that agricultural subsidy programs may be curtailed or at least moved away from big commodity crops like corn and wheat. Discussions about the 2023 farm bill have begun and could well include substantive changes in agricultural policy.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/big-ag-could-lose-two-powerful-d-c-politicians-heres-what-that-and-a-biden-win-could-mean-for-farm-subsidies-11604073763
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