The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

 policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding appropriations for various governmental agencies, programs, and activities, as defined by House rules.

History of the Agriculture Committee

The Agriculture Committee was created on May 3, 1820, after Lewis Williams

Lewis Williams

For the Welsh rugby union player see Lewis Williams Lewis Williams was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1815 and 1842....

 of North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

 sponsored a resolution

Resolution (law)

A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be...

 to create the committee and give agricultural

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

 issues equal weight with commercial

Commerce

While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...

 and manufacturing

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...

 interests. The committee originally consisted of seven members, from the states of Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

, New Hampshire

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...

, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, South Carolina

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

, Vermont

Vermont

Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...

, and Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

. Thomas Forrest

Thomas Forrest

Thomas Forrest was an American politician. He was member of the 16th Session of the United States Congress, and first chairman of the United States House Committee on Agriculture. He fought in the Continental Army as an artillery officer during the American Revolutionary War.-Career:Forrest was...

 of Pennsylvania was the first chairman. The Agriculture Committee remained a seven-member body until 1835, when two more members were added. It was not until 1871 that the next two members were added. Since then it has gradually grown to its current size of 46 members.

The U.S. Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 counterpart to the House Agriculture Committee, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, was created on December 9, 1825.

Role of the Agriculture Committee

The Agriculture Committee is not generally considered to be a particularly powerful one. However, it is an important committee to be on for Representatives from many rural

Rural

Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...

 areas where agriculture is the main industry. The committee has jurisdiction

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...

 over agriculture, forestry

Forestry

Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...

, nutrition

Nutrition

Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....

, water conservation

Conservation biology

Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...

, and other agriculture-related fields.

Jurisdiction

As prescribed by House Rules, the Committee on Agriculture's jurisdiction includes the following:

• Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of birds and animals in forest reserves
• Agriculture generally
• Agricultural and industrial chemistry
• Agricultural colleges and experiment stations
• Agricultural economics and research
• Agricultural education extension services
• Agricultural production, marketing and stabilization of prices of agricultural products, and commodities (excluding foreign distribution)
• Animal industry and diseases of animals
• Commodity exchanges
• Crop insurance and soil conservation

• Dairy industry
• Entomology and plant quarantine
• Extension of farm credit and farm security
• Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and seafood and seafood products
• Forestry in general and forest reserves other than those created from the public domain
• Human nutrition and home economics
• Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering
• Rural electrification
• Rural development
• Water conservation related to activities of the Department of Agriculture

Members, 112th Congress

The committee chairman is Frank Lucas of Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

, and the Ranking Member

Ranking member

In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...

 is Collin Peterson

Collin Peterson

Collin Clark Peterson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991, and the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and is the dean of the Minnesota congressional delegation.The district, Minnesota's largest and most rural...

 of Minnesota.

Majority

Minority

Frank Lucas, Oklahoma, Chairman Bob Goodlatte Bob Goodlatte Robert William "Bob" Goodlatte is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Roanoke and also includes Lynchburg, Harrisonburg and Staunton.-Early life, education and career:... , Virginia, Vice Chairman Timothy V. Johnson Timothy V. Johnson Timothy Vincent "Tim" Johnson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:... , Illinois Steve King Steve King Steven Arnold "Steve" King is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district is located in the western part of the state and includes Sioux City and Council Bluffs.... , Iowa Randy Neugebauer Randy Neugebauer Robert Randolph "Randy" Neugebauer is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes a large swath of West Texas, including Lubbock and Abilene... , Texas Mike Conaway Mike Conaway Kenneth Michael "Mike" Conaway, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is located in West Texas and includes Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Brownwood and Fredericksburg.... , Texas Jeff Fortenberry Jeff Fortenberry Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960) is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area.-Early life, education and... , Nebraska Jean Schmidt Jean Schmidt Jeannette Marie Hoffman Schmidt, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from eastern Cincinnati to Portsmouth.... , Ohio Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Pennsylvania Tom Rooney Tom Rooney (politician) Thomas J. "Tom" Rooney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:... , Florida Marlin Stutzman Marlin Stutzman Marlin Andrew Stutzman is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He previously was a member of the Indiana Senate representing the 13th district, where he served from 2009 to 2010 and he was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008 representing... , Indiana Bob Gibbs Bob Gibbs Bob Gibbs is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:Gibbs was born on June 14, 1954 in Peru, Indiana. His family moved to Cleveland in the 1960s, and Gibbs graduated from Bay Village Senior High School... , Ohio Austin Scott Austin Scott (politician) James Austin Scott is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and career:... , Georgia Scott Tipton Scott Tipton Scott R. Tipton is the U.S. Representative for . In November 2010, he defeated three-term incumbent Democrat John Salazar, whom he lost to in 2006 by a wide margin. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives and a co-owner of a pottery company in Cortez, Colorado... , Colorado Steve Southerland Steve Southerland (Florida) William Steve Southerland, II is the U.S. Representative for . The district includes most of the eastern Florida Panhandle, from Panama City to the state capital, Tallahassee. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:... , Florida Rick Crawford Rick Crawford (politician) Eric Alan Rick Crawford is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. Before he was elected to Congress, Crawford was a radio announcer, businessman and U.S. Army veteran.-Early life and education:... , Arkansas Martha Roby Martha Roby Martha Dubina Roby is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party. She narrowly defeated incumbent Representative Bobby Bright on November 2 during the United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2010 and assumed office in January 2011.-Early life,... , Alabama Tim Huelskamp Tim Huelskamp Timothy Alan Huelskamp is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party . He represented the 38th District in the Kansas Senate from 1997 until entering Congress.-Early life, education, and career:... , Kansas Scott DesJarlais Scott DesJarlais Scott Eugene DesJarlais is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and medical career:... , Tennessee Renee Ellmers Renee Ellmers Renee Jacisin Ellmers is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party. Ellmers defeated seven-term Democratic incumbent Bob Etheridge by 1,489 votes, confirmed after a recount.... , North Carolina Chris Gibson, New York Randy Hultgren Randy Hultgren Randall Mark "Randy" Hultgren is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.Hultgren previously represented the 48th district Senate seat in the Illinois General Assembly from 2007 - 2011... , Illinois Vicky Hartzler Vicky Hartzler Vicky Jo Hartzler is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party. She represented District 124 in the Missouri House from 1995 to 2000.-Early life:... , Missouri Bobby Schilling Bobby Schilling Robert Todd "Bobby" Schilling is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2011. Schilling is a member of the Republican Party and was backed by the Tea Party movement in the November 2010 election... , Illinois Reid Ribble, Wisconsin Kristi Noem Kristi Noem Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is the U.S. Representative for , serving since January 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party and has been elected to the Republican Leadership for the 112th Congress as one of its two freshman representatives... , South Dakota

Collin C. Peterson, Minnesota, Ranking Member Tim Holden Tim Holden Thomas Timothy "Tim" Holden is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:... , Pennsylvania, Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre Douglas Carmichael "Mike" McIntyre II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.... , North Carolina Leonard Boswell Leonard Boswell Leonard L. Boswell is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district is based in Des Moines.-Early life, education and career:... , Iowa Joe Baca Joe Baca Joseph N. "Joe" Baca is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 42nd from 1999 to 2003, is located in southwestern San Bernardino County and includes Fontana, Rialto, Ontario and parts of the city of San... , California Dennis Cardoza Dennis Cardoza Dennis A. Cardoza is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district takes in a large swath of the Central Valley, from Stockton to Fresno. He is a member of the Democratic Party... , California David Scott, Georgia Henry Cuellar Henry Cuellar Henry Roberto Cuellar is the U.S Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district extends from the Rio Grande to the suburbs of San Antonio, including Guadalupe County and nearby Wilson County.Outside of politics, he has served as a professor at the... , Texas Jim Costa Jim Costa James Manuel "Jim" Costa is the U.S. Representative for , serving since his initial election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district takes in large and predominantly Latino portions of Fresno and Bakersfield in the Central Valley.-Early life and education:Born in Fresno,... , California Tim Walz Tim Walz Timothy James Walz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party .The district comprises the state's southern end, running along the entire border with Iowa... , Minnesota Kurt Schrader Kurt Schrader Kurt Schrader is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly.-Early life, education, and early career:... , Oregon Larry Kissell Larry Kissell Lawrence Webb "Larry" Kissell is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district stretches from Charlotte to Fayetteville.-Early life, education, and early career:... , North Carolina Bill Owens, New York Chellie Pingree Chellie Pingree Rochelle M. "Chellie" Pingree is an American politician. She is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing since 2009. The district includes most of the southern part of the state, including Portland and Augusta.Pingree was a member of the Maine Senate from... , Maine Joe Courtney Joe Courtney (politician) Joseph Courtney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:Courtney grew up in suburban Hartford and became a 1975 graduate of Tufts University... , Connecticut Peter Welch, Vermont Marcia Fudge, Ohio Gregorio Sablan Gregorio Sablan Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan is a Northern Mariana politician and former election commission director. Sablan was elected in 2008 as the first nonvoting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands... , Northern Mariana Islands Terri Sewell Terri Sewell Terrycina Andrea "Terri" Sewell is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Democratic Party and the first black woman elected to Congress from Alabama... , Alabama Jim McGovern Jim McGovern James Patrick "Jim" McGovern is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.... , Massachusetts

Sources:

• Resolutions electing Republican members
• Resolutions electing Democratic members

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Conservation, Energy, and Forestry	Glenn "G.T." Thompson (R-PA)	Tim Holden Tim Holden Thomas Timothy "Tim" Holden is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...  (D-PA)
Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit	Jeff Fortenberry Jeff Fortenberry Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960) is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area.-Early life, education and...  (R-NE)	Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
General Farm Commodities and Risk Management United States House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management The House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. The subcommittee oversees program and markets for major commercial crops, such as cotton, cottonseed, wheat, feed grains , soybeans, oilseeds, rice, dry beans, peas, and...	Mike Conaway Mike Conaway Kenneth Michael "Mike" Conaway, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is located in West Texas and includes Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Brownwood and Fredericksburg....  (R-TX)	Leonard Boswell Leonard Boswell Leonard L. Boswell is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district is based in Des Moines.-Early life, education and career:...  (D-IA)
Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry United States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry The House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. It oversees all issues relating to livestock, dairy, poultry, meat, seafood and seafood products including federal inspection, marketing, and promotion of these commodities...	Tom Rooney Tom Rooney (politician) Thomas J. "Tom" Rooney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:...  (R-FL)	Dennis Cardoza Dennis Cardoza Dennis A. Cardoza is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district takes in a large swath of the Central Valley, from Stockton to Fresno. He is a member of the Democratic Party...  (D-CA)
Nutrition and Horticulture	Jean Schmidt Jean Schmidt Jeannette Marie Hoffman Schmidt, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from eastern Cincinnati to Portsmouth....  (R-OH)	Joe Baca Joe Baca Joseph N. "Joe" Baca is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 42nd from 1999 to 2003, is located in southwestern San Bernardino County and includes Fontana, Rialto, Ontario and parts of the city of San...  (D-CA)
Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture	Timothy V. Johnson Timothy V. Johnson Timothy Vincent "Tim" Johnson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:...  (R-IL)	Jim Costa Jim Costa James Manuel "Jim" Costa is the U.S. Representative for , serving since his initial election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district takes in large and predominantly Latino portions of Fresno and Bakersfield in the Central Valley.-Early life and education:Born in Fresno,... (D-CA)

Source:

External links

• Agriculture Committee Homepage, official website
• Committee Rules (PDF), Agriculte Committee, official website
• Past Committee Chairs, Agriculture Committee, official website