This week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson who lost his re-election bid threw his support behind Representative David Scott of Georgia to succeed him as Chair of the House Ag panel. Scott and Congressman Jim Costa of California are the leading candidates for that job. Minnesota Soybean Grower’s Association’s Executive Director Joe Smentek says the concern is the loss of Midwest growers influence on that committee.

Peterson says he backs Scott because of his seniority on the committee and his experience working with ag issues. Smentek says it’s critical to have some one with experience lead that committee.

He says his group has been putting their priorities together for what they want the new Congress and Ag Committees to support going forward.

Smentek says Minnesota’s soybean growers will be weighing in with Congress as they write the new farm bill.