New year, new president, new congress . . . new ag?

The 2020 elections brought a wave of dramatic change across the entire political landscape. While changes to who resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, or which party controls the U.S. Senate will leave a measurable impact on the future of our nation, one lesser-known change from November’s election will have a significant impact on many Hoosiers – control of the House Ag Committee.

Though control of the House has not changed from Democrats’ hands following the 2020 election, leadership of the House Agriculture Committee has. All party affiliations aside, American agriculture lost two dear friends this election cycle with the retirement of Ranking Member Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and the defeat of Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.). With the 117th Congress now fully underway, Peterson and Conaway have been replaced by Ranking Member Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-Pa.) and Chairman Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.).

The House Ag Committee has long been held up as a shining example of how well bipartisanship can still work, despite an increasingly divided political landscape. However, if the current trend holds, it seems that this tradition may deteriorate. So far this Congress, the committee majority has taken a deeply partisan position on hearings regarding climate change, nutrition and the state of black farmers in the United States, not to mention the consideration of agricultural provisions of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan – which received no Republican votes and saw every Republican amendment voted down except for one that was later removed by Democrats in the Rules Committee.

These early meetings clearly map out the chairman’s priorities for the committee’s work this congress – and notably absent from these priorities is mention of conventional farmers like Indiana’s row-crop and livestock producers.

While apparent changes in the committee’s direction do give me cause for pause, it’s certainly not all bad news, and I still see great opportunity ahead for Hoosier farmers and the broader ag industry. Under the leadership of Rep. Thompson as top Republican on the committee, I know that focus will constantly be pulled back to the American farmer, preparation for the quickly approaching next Farm Bill, and bringing solutions to a farm economy that has shown many worrisome traits in recent years.

I was fortunate enough to recently be named as the top Republican on the Biotech, Horticulture and Research Subcommittee. In this role, I see many opportunities to advance Hoosier farmers in the committee’s dialogue. The climate change conversation is the perfect chance to highlight the important stewardship and conservation work farmers have championed for years, to finally clear regulatory hurdles that have long stifled technology which could improve producer stewardship and sustainability, and to expand adoption of biofuels like ethanol which was recently shown to emit 46 percent less greenhouse gas than its alternative.

While opportunity is visibly on the horizon, and I will continue to do everything I can to fight on behalf of Hoosier farmers, I can’t do it without you. I need your direction; for you to share your challenges and the ideas you have for solutions.

My office is always open to Indiana farmers, from my district or otherwise, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Rep. Baird represents Indiana’s fourth congressional district and is a Putnam County farmer and a Ph.D. animal scientist. He is a member of the House Ag Committee and a leader frequently engaged in farm policy discussions.