The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry -- better known as the Senate Ag Committee -- provides legislative oversight over issues relating to nation's agricultural industry, farming programs, forestry and logging. In addition, this committee -- as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- is responsible for some issues relating to nutrition and health.
History
The Senate Agriculture Committee was established in 1825; at that time in our history, we were an agrarian nation and agriculture was very important to the nation's economic well-being. This Committee was split off from the Senate Committee on Commerce and Manufactures.
It became the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in 1884, reflecting the growing importance of forests to the nation's economy as well as the fact that tending forests is more like farming than it is like mining or steel manufacturing. It became the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in 1977.
It became the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in 1884, reflecting the growing importance of forests to the nation's economy as well as the fact that tending forests is more like farming than it is like mining or steel manufacturing. It became the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in 1977.
Democratic Members - 2009-2010
- Tom Harkin, Iowa, Chairman
- Max Baucus, Montana
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Robert Casey, Jr., Pennsylvania
- Kent Conrad, North Dakota
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont
- Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas
- E. Benjamin Nelson, Nebraska
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
Democratic Members - 2009-2010
- Tom Harkin, Iowa, Chairman
- Max Baucus, Montana
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Robert Casey, Jr., Pennsylvania
- Kent Conrad, North Dakota
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont
- Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas
- E. Benjamin Nelson, Nebraska
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
Committee Website
It is not possible to link to specific pages on the U.S. Senate Ag Committee website, at least not while retaining the .gov URL.
Chairmen, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, 1977-2009
- Herman E. Talmadge (D-GA) 1977-1981
- Jesse Helms (R-NC) 1981-1987
- Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 1987-1995
- Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) 1995-2001
- Thomas R. Harkin (D-IA) 2001
- Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) 2001
- Thomas R. Harkin (D-IA) 2001-2003
- Thad Cochran (R-MS) 2003-2005
- Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) 2005-2007
- Thomas R. Harkin (D-IA) 2007-present
