The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, forestry and logging, and legislation relating to nutrition, home economics, and rural development.
The current chair is Republican John Boozman of Arkansas, and the ranking member is Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.
History
Founded in 1825 the committee was formed at the request of Senator William Findlay from Pennsylvania. Arguing that agriculture was as important to national progress as commerce and manufacturing, Findlay succeeded in persuading the full Senate to divide the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures into two separate committees. The Committee on Agriculture was formed by resolution on December 9, 1825.
During the first four decades of the existence of this committee, the need for it was repeatedly called into question. At that time in America, nearly two-thirds of the population was directly engaged in agriculture.
Following a debate over the necessity of various committees to have need of the services of a dedicated clerk, a Special Committee was formed to investigate ways to "reduce the number and increase the efficiency of the committees." On February 17, 1857, the Special Committee submitted a plan of reorganization for the committees that did not include the Agriculture Committee. During a special session of the Senate, on March 5, 1857, the Senate approved the Special Committees recommendations and the Committee on Agriculture was dissolved.
In 1862, the country was embroiled in the Civil War, a large influx of immigrants was occurring and the nation was moving towards industrialization. That year, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Organic Act recreating the Department of Agriculture.
It became the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in 1884, a reflection of the growing importance of forests to the country's needs. It was renamed again to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in 1977. Nutrition was added to the name after the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 directed the Department of Agriculture to "conduct more human nutrition research, establish a national nutrition education program and develop a system to monitor America's nutritional status".
Jurisdiction
In accordance of Rule XXV of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects are referred to the Agriculture Committee:
- Agricultural economics and research.
- Agricultural extension services and experiment stations.
- Agricultural production, marketing, and stabilization of prices.
- Agriculture and agricultural commodities.
- Animal industry and diseases.
- Crop insurance and soil conservation.
- Farm credit and farm security.
- Food from fresh waters.
- Food stamp programs.
- Forestry, and forest reserves and wilderness areas other than those created from the public domain.
- Home economics.
- Human nutrition.
- Inspection of livestock, meat, and agricultural products.
- Pests and pesticides.
- Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering.
- Rural development, rural electrification, and watersheds.
- School nutrition programs.
Members, 119th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- John Boozman, Arkansas, Chair
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
- Roger Marshall, Kansas
- Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
- Jim Justice, West Virginia (from January 14, 2025)
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
- Jerry Moran, Kansas
| valign=top |
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota, Ranking Member
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Raphael Warnock, Georgia
- Peter Welch, Vermont
- John Fetterman, Pennsylvania
- Adam Schiff, California
- Elissa Slotkin, Michigan
|}
Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittees
!Chair
!Ranking members
|-
|Commodities, Derivatives, Risk Management, and Trade
|Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
|Cory Booker (D-NJ)
|-
|Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology
|Roger Marshall (R-KS)
|Michael Bennet (D-CO)
|-
|Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety
|John Hoeven (R-ND)
|Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
|-
|Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research
|Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
|John Fetterman (D-PA)
|-
|Rural Development, Energy, and Credit
|Joni Ernst (R-IA)
|Peter Welch (D-VT)
|}
Leadership
The committee, under its various names, has been chaired by the below.
Committee on Agriculture, 1825–1857
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Name
!colspan=2 |Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Pennsylvania
|1825
|1826
|-
|
|
|Adams
|Connecticut
|1826
|1827
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|North Carolina
|1827
|1828
|-
|
|
|Adams
|New Jersey
|1828
|1829
|-
|
|
|Adams
|Louisiana
|colspan=2 align=center |1829
|-
|
|
|Anti-Jackson
|Pennsylvania
|1829
|1831
|-
|
|
|Anti-Jackson
|Vermont
|1831
|1833
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|North Carolina
|1833
|1836
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|New Hampshire
|1836
|1837
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Connecticut
|1837
|1839
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Louisiana
|1839
|1841
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Missouri
|1841
|1843
|-
|
|
|Whig
|Vermont
|1843
|1845
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Pennsylvania
|1845
|1851
|-
|
|
|Whig
|Delaware
|colspan=2 align=center |1851
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Louisiana
|1851
|1853
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Rhode Island
|1853
|1857
|}
</div>
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ranking members
!Name
!colspan=2 |Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|New Hampshire
|1825
|1826
|-
|
|
|Adams
|New Jersey
|1826
|1827
|-
|
|
|Adams
|Connecticut
|1827
|1828
|-
|
|
|Adams
|Pennsylvania
|1828
|1829
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Pennsylvania
|1829
|1830
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|North Carolina
|1830
|1831
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Alabama
|1831
|1832
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Illinois
|1832
|1833
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Illinois
|1833
|1834
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Illinois
|1834
|1835
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Ohio
|1835
|1836
|-
|
|
|Jacksonian
|Pennsylvania
|1836
|1839
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|North Carolina
|1839
|1840
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Pennsylvania
|1840
|1841
|-
|
|
|Whig
|Indiana
|1841
|1842
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Connecticut
|1842
|1843
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Illinois
|1843
|1845
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Tennessee
|1845
|1847
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|New Hampshire
|1847
|1849
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Wisconsin
|1849
|1851
|-
|
|
|Whig
|Delaware
|1851
|1852
|-
|
|
|Whig
|Ohio
|1852
|1853
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|New Jersey
|1853
|1857
|}
</div>
Committee on Agriculture, 1863–1884
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Name
!colspan=2 |Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Ohio
|1863
|1864
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Kansas
|1864
|1865
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Ohio
|1865
|1867
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Pennsylvania
|1867
|1871
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Indiana
|1871
|1872
|-
|
|
|Republican
|New Jersey
|1872
|1877
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Nebraska
|1877
|1879
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Virginia
|1879
|1881
|-
|
|
|Readjuster/Republican
|Virginia
|1881
|1883
|-
|
|
|Republican
|New York
|1883
|1884
|}
</div>
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ranking members
!Name
!colspan=2|Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Kentucky
|1863
|1865
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Kentucky
|1865
|1868
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Kentucky
|1868
|1871
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|West Virginia
|1871
|1873
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Maryland
|1873
|1875
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|West Virginia
|1875
|1879
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Nebraska
|1879
|1881
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|West Virginia
|1881
|1883
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Mississippi
|1883
|1884
|}
</div>
Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, 1884–1977
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Names
!colspan=2 |Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Republican
|New York
|1884
|1887
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Michigan
|1887
|1889
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Nebraska
|1889
|1893
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Mississippi
|1893
|1895
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Vermont
|1895
|1908
|-
|
|
|Republican
|North Dakota
|1908
|1909
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Iowa
|1909
|1910
|-
|
|
|Republican
|New Hampshire
|1911
|1913
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Oklahoma
|1913
|1919
|-
|
|
|Republican
|North Dakota
|1919
|1921
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Nebraska
|1921
|1926
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Oregon
|1926
|1933
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|South Carolina
|1933
|1944
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Oklahoma
|1944
|1947
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Kansas
|1947
|1949
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Oklahoma
|1949
|1951
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Louisiana
|1951
|1953
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Vermont
|1953
|1955
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Louisiana
|1955
|1971
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Georgia
|1971
|1977
|}
</div>
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ranking members
!Name
!colspan=2 |Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Mississippi
|1884
|1893
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Michigan
|1893
|1895
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Mississippi
|1895
|1898
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Tennessee
|1898
|1905
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Mississippi
|1905
|1911
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Alabama
|1911
|1913
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Wyoming
|1913
|1919
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Oklahoma
|1919
|1921
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|South Carolina
|1921
|1933
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Nebraska
|1933
|1943
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Kansas
|1943
|1947
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Oklahoma
|1947
|1949
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Vermont
|1949
|1953
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Louisiana
|1953
|1955
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Vermont
|1955
|1971
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Iowa
|1971
|1973
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Nebraska
|1973
|1975
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Kansas
|1975
|1977
|}
</div>
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, 1977–present
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Name
!colspan=2 |Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Georgia
|1977
|1981
|-
|
|
|Republican
|North Carolina
|1981
|1987
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Vermont
|1987
|1995
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Indiana
|1995
|2001
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Iowa
|colspan=2 align=center |2001
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Indiana
|colspan=2 align=center |2001
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Iowa
|2001
|2003
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Mississippi
|2003
|2005
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Georgia
|2005
|2007
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Iowa
|2007
|2009
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Arkansas
|2009
|2011
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Michigan
|2011
|2015
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Kansas
|2015
|2021
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Michigan
|2021
|2025
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Arkansas
|2025
|present
|}
</div>
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ranking members
!Name
!colspan=2 |Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Kansas
|1977
|1979
|-
|
|
|Republican
|North Carolina
|1979
|1981
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Nebraska
|1981
|1985
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Nebraska
|1985
|1987
|-
|
|
|Republican
|North Carolina
|colspan=2 align=center |1987
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Indiana
|1987
|1995
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Vermont
|1995
|1997
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Iowa
|1997
|2001
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Mississippi
|2001
|2003
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Iowa
|2003
|2007
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Georgia
|2007
|2011
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Kansas
|2011
|2013
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Mississippi
|2013
|2015
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Michigan
|2015
|2021
|-
|
|
|Republican
|Arkansas
|2021
|2025
|-
|
|
|Democratic
|Minnesota
|2025
|present
|}
</div>
Historical committee rosters
118th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Chair
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Raphael Warnock, Georgia
- Peter Welch, Vermont
- John Fetterman, Pennsylvania
| valign=top |
- John Boozman, Arkansas, Ranking Member
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
- Roger Marshall, Kansas
- Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
- Mike Braun, Indiana
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
|}
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittees
!Chair
!Ranking members
|-
|Commodities, Risk Management and Trade
|Tina Smith (D-MN)
|Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
|-
|Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources
|Michael Bennet (D-CO)
|Roger Marshall (R-KS)
|-
|Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security
|Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
|John Hoeven (R-ND)
|-
|Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research
|John Fetterman (D-PA)
|Mike Braun (R-IN)
|-
|Rural Development and Energy
|Peter Welch (D-VT)
|Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
|}
117th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Chair
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Raphael Warnock, Georgia
| valign=top |
- John Boozman, Arkansas, Ranking Member
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
- Mike Braun, Indiana
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
- Roger Marshall, Kansas
- Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
|}
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittees
!Chair
!Ranking members
|-
|Commodities, Markets and Trade
|Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
|John Hoeven (R-ND)
|-
|Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources
|Michael Bennet (D-CO)
|Roger Marshall (R-KS)
|-
|Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security
|Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
|Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
|-
|Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research
|Cory Booker (D-NJ)
|Mike Braun (R-IN)
|-
|Rural Development and Energy
|Tina Smith (D-MN)
|Joni Ernst (R-IA)
|}
116th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- Pat Roberts, Kansas, Chair
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Boozman, Arkansas
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
- Mike Braun, Indiana
- David Perdue, Georgia
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
- Kelly Loeffler, Georgia
| valign=top |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Ranking Member
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
|}
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittees
!Chair
!Ranking members
|-
|Commodities, Markets and Trade
|John Boozman (R-AR)
|Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
|-
|Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources
|Mike Braun (R-IN)
|Michael Bennet (D-CO)
|-
|Livestock, Marketing and Agriculture Security
|Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
|Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
|-
|Nutrition, Agricultural Research and Specialty Crops
|Deb Fischer (R-NE)
|Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)
|-
|Rural Development and Energy
|Joni Ernst (R-IA)
|Tina Smith (D-MN)
|}
Source
115th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- Pat Roberts, Kansas, Chair
- Thad Cochran, Mississippi (until April 1, 2018)<!-- KEEP for historical purposes-->
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Boozman, Arkansas
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Steve Daines, Montana
- David Perdue, Georgia
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi (from April 10, 2018)
| valign=top |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Ranking Member
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Joe Donnelly, Indiana
- Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Chris Van Hollen, Maryland (until January 2018)<!-- KEEP for historical purposes-->
- Tina Smith, Minnesota (since January 2018)
|}
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittees