Criticism of Scott: In not-so-private comments, some Capitol Hill Democrats say Rep. David Scott, the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, should be replaced — an extraordinary step — before the committee begins work on the 2023 farm bill. (Politico)
Meat conference shelved: Sponsors canceled the 2022 Annual Meat Conference, scheduled for Feb. 7-9, “out of respect for the health of our communities” amid the surge in Covid-19 cases caused by the omicron variant. (FMI)
Committee advances Califf: By a 13-8 margin, the Senate Health Committee advanced the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf for FDA commissioner to a full Senate vote. He led the agency during the final year of the Obama administration. (New York Times)
Food inflation factors: Inflationary pressures on food prices are unlikely to dissipate until labor market disruptions subside, supply chains adjust to coronavirus gyrations, and federal spending is reined in, said economist Jayson Lusk. (Purdue Agricultural Economics)
McCarthy draws lines: If he becomes speaker in 2023, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy would not consider legislation to provide legal status to undocumented immigrants — a group that includes thousands of farmworkers — and would inject tough-on-China initiatives into the work of as many House committees as possible. (Axios)