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How will agriculture fare in the Super Committee?

The ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee says he is nervous about how agriculture will fare with that 12-member Super committee charged with cutting federal spending. As part of the debt ceiling bill, 6 Republicans and 6 Democrats will be appointed to come up with $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction over the next 10 years. Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson fears there won’t be anyone on that committee who knows much about agriculture. Peterson tells Agriculture.com the best hope for agriculture will come out of the Senate where Max Baucus of Montana and Kent Conrad from North Dakota could be appointed, both serve on the Senate Ag Committee.

The Super Committee has until Thanksgiving to come up with proposed cuts, if they don’t, all federal programs except major entitlements will be cut 4 percent. Peterson says agriculture may be better off with that option.