South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem has been criticized about giving up a seat on the House Agriculture Committee for a position on the House Ways and Means Committee. However, South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says that committee assignment is important to agriculture.

He says even though Noem has left the Ag Committee, she still has influence with its members and on agricultural issues.

VanderWal says most of the criticism is political in nature.

The criticism Noem has received egarding committee assignments has come from one South Dakota farm group and her opponent in the election, Democratic candidate Paula Hawks.