Democrats narrowed the Republican majority in the Senate in the November elections, so the Agriculture Committee will have 11 Republicans this session, unchanged from last year, and 10 Democrats, an increase of one. The committee has three newcomers: Republicans Steve Daines of Montana and Jeff Sessions of Alabama, and Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Sessions is expected to leave the committee as soon as he is confirmed as attorney general.
Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts said the panel will ask farmers and ranchers for ideas for the new farm bill, due in 2018, and “what dials can be turned up or down” in current law to respond to low commodity prices and the tightening credit supply.
Republicans appointed to the Agriculture Committee, along with Roberts, Daines and Sessions, are Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, John Boozman of Arkansas, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, John Thune of South Dakota and David Perdue of Georgia.