Boozman and Klobuchar lined up to succeed Stabenow in agriculture

The Senate Agriculture Committee will see a new chair in the next Congress, regardless of next week's election results, as current chair Debbie Stabenow reaches the end of her 24-year career in the Senate.

Ranking member John Boozman, R-Ark., would likely take the gavel if Republicans secure the majority. Boozman became the Republican frontrunner in the 117th Congress following the resignation of Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

The Democratic side isn't so clear, but Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is most likely to take the party's top post in the Agriculture Senate – chairwoman or ranking member, depending on who has the majority.

Boozman wants the panel to remain bipartisan, an approach that is often necessary — but not always taken — to bring together the food focus of urban Democrats and the agricultural focus of rural Republicans in legislation like the farm bill.

“The Ag Committee has proven throughout its history that it works best when it works in a bipartisan manner and legislates based on the needs expressed by the constituents of this committee: farmers, ranchers, forest owners, rural residents and those in need of food assistance .” Boozman said in a statement.

The panel spent much of the 118th Congress working on a new farm bill — a legislative effort that will follow it into lame duck and possibly the next Congress. The Senate has not released the text of its version of the bill, but both Stabenow, D-Mich. and Boozman have published frameworks.

Boozman's framework lays out his priorities: modernizing the agricultural safety net, supporting agricultural research, improving access to foreign markets and growing rural communities.

He would “modernize” the agricultural risk coverage and price loss insurance programs by increasing the statutory reference prices for covered commodities by an average of 15 percent. These reference prices affect payments under both programs.

His framework also proposes adding base land for farms that have little to none, which represents a significant barrier to accessing the agricultural safety net. According to the Congressional Research Service, farmers need at least 10 acres of land to receive ARC or PLC payments, with the exception of the disadvantaged, veterans, novice farmers and those of limited means.

Boozman says farmers should be able to tap into foreign markets and address the “largest agricultural trade deficit in U.S. history.” The agricultural trade deficit is expected to reach $42.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, the Agriculture Department said in an August report.

It would double funding for USDA's market access and foreign market development programs. MAP is a cost-sharing program for marketing and advertising activities abroad, and FMD, also known as the Cooperator program, aims to finance long-term opportunities to reduce foreign import restrictions. Neither program has seen a funding boost since the 2002 farm law.

Aside from the farm bill, Boozman also said he wants to examine the USDA's actions.

“Ensuring that USDA faithfully, efficiently and effectively implements the law is my top priority and I expect that as a committee we will thoroughly review its actions,” he said.

The Democrats' priorities

Klobuchar appears to be the leading candidate for Democratic leadership of the panel. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has more seniority, but Brown's re-election race is rated a toss-up by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales. And if Brown wins, he is expected to retain his position as the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.

Klobuchar and Brown did not respond to requests for comment.

If the farm bill fails to pass in the lame-duck session, Klobuchar would have to decide whether to stick with Stabenow's framework released in May or pursue a new approach. Klobuchar posted her support on X at the time. “This Farm Bill proposal has important bipartisan priorities to strengthen the farm safety net, feed families and invest in rural America,” she wrote.

Klobuchar sponsored seven bills this session that were referred to the Agriculture Committee. The bills address crop insurance, biorefineries, organic production and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, among other issues. None of the bills passed the committee.

One bill would establish an incentive program to encourage purchases of nutrient-dense dairy products using SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps. Projects that are now part of the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives program would be transferred to the new program. The bill would also direct the USDA to enter into cooperative agreements or award grants to develop and test methods to incentivize purchases of dairy products using SNAP.

Stabenow's framework would similarly rename the HFMI “Healthy Dairy Diet Incentive Projects” and allow the USDA to enter into cooperative agreements or grants to incentivize dairy purchases. But unlike Klobuchar's bill, SNAP is not specifically highlighted in the framework proposal.

The agricultural law remains a focus for farmers.

“Farmers face growing economic challenges and need the stability of a five-year farm bill,” Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union, said in a statement. The NFU has offices in 33 states and represents family farmers, fishermen and ranchers.

“No matter who takes the lead, we are committed to justice and building a resilient food system. “The new leaders have shown strong support for agriculture and we are ready to work together,” Larew said.