The recent power shift in the U.S. Senate will mean good things for Iowa agriculture, because Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin will take over as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

What does this mean for Iowa agriculture? Harkin has already said his main priority is to get moving on the new federal farm bill, which is extremely important to Iowa farmers.

Harkin also plans to try to push conservation efforts, with the intent that farmers who use conservation practices on their land receive federal payments.

With the energy crunch, Iowa farmers will need affordable fuel, and Harkin will most likely push ethanol as a reliable fuel source, which can help Iowa’s economy.

The move will also bring Midwestern agricultural issues to the national scene, balancing out priorities with President Bush’s Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, who is from California.

Harkin is only the second Iowan to ever get the chair of the committee, something quite remarkable considering the importance of agriculture to Iowa’s economy.

If Harkin can manage to work with Republicans to bring more of Iowa’s agricultural issues to national attention, the Senate power shift will mean good things for Iowa residents.

editorialboard: Michelle Kann, Tim Paluch, Jocelyn Marcus, Zach Calef, Ruth Spangler, Cavan Reagan