Representative David Scott, from Georgia, has passed away at the age of 80.
He became the first African American Chair of the House Agriculture Committee , according to Politico, in the Biden Administration starting in 2021, then as Ranking Member after Republicans gained the majority in 2023. He was replaced in 2024 by current Ranking Member Angie Craig.
He is the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die since lawmakers convened last January, and he was in the running for a 13th term in the House of Representatives.
Story via Gregory Svirnovskiy and Meredith Lee Hill with Politico.
Related Stories
Lawmakers and experts react to the Administration’s long-awaited announcement of “bridge” aid to stabilize farms and offset 2025 losses until expanded safety-net programs begin in 2026.
Read the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official press release published on Monday, December 8, 2025.
$11 billion will go to row-crop farmers immediately, with $1 billion set aside for specialty crops.
Georgia has regained its HPAI-free status after a swift response to October’s detection. Commissioner Tyler Harper urges producers to stay vigilant and maintain biosecurity.
While this month’s WASDE report will not include updated figures on U.S. crop size, officials say it will offer a clearer picture of crop conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
Southern producers head into 2026 with thin margins, tighter credit, and rising agronomic risks despite scattered yield improvements.
