The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people ...

policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding appropriations for various governmental agencies, programs, and activities, as defined by House rules.

History of the committee

The Agriculture Committee was created on May 3, 1820, after Lewis Williams of North Carolina sponsored a resolution to create the committee and give agricultural issues equal weight with commercial and manufacturing interests. The committee originally consisted of seven members, from the states of

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean t ...

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

, New York,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. Thomas Forrest of Pennsylvania was the first chairman. The Agriculture Committee remained a seven-member body until 1835, when two more members were added. It was not until 1871 that the next two members were added. Since then it has gradually grown to its current size of 46 members. The U.S. Senate counterpart to the House Agriculture Committee, the

U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with congressional oversight, legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, forest ...

, was created on December 9, 1825.

Role of the committee

The Agriculture Committee is not generally considered to be a particularly powerful one. However, it is an important committee to be on for Representatives from many

rural In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are de ...

areas where agriculture is the main industry. The committee has jurisdiction over agriculture, forestry, nutrition, water

conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and manageme ...

, and other agriculture-related fields.

Jurisdiction

As prescribed by House Rules, the Committee on Agriculture's jurisdiction includes the following: * Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of birds and animals in forest reserves * Agriculture generally * Agricultural and industrial chemistry * Agricultural colleges and experiment stations * Agricultural economics and research * Agricultural education extension services * Agricultural production, marketing and stabilization of prices of agricultural products, and commodities (excluding foreign distribution) * Animal industry and diseases of animals * Commodity exchanges * Crop insurance and soil conservation * Dairy industry * Entomology and plant quarantine * Extension of farm credit and farm security * Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and seafood and seafood products * Forestry in general and forest reserves other than those created from the public domain * Human nutrition and home economics * Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering * Rural electrification * Rural developments * Water conservation related to activities of the Department of Agriculture

Members, 117th Congress

Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R), (D), (D), (D), (R), (D), (D), (R), (R)

Subcommittees

Historical membership rosters

115th Congress

116th Congress

;Subcommittees

List of chairs

Notes

References

External links

Agriculture Committee Homepage
official website
Archive

(PDF), Agriculture Committee, official website
House Agriculture Committee
Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
House Agriculture Committee Hearings and Meetings Video
Congress.gov

Agriculture Committee, official website {{Authority control

Agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people ...

House Committee on Agriculture 1820 establishments in Washington, D.C.