Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 12/13/18

The two House Ag leaders are poised to switch roles starting in January when Democrats retake the House majority. Peterson, the incoming chairman, said the duo will build off their successful farm bill effort — despite past sparring.

"We're going to work together. That's what we do," Peterson told reporters after the vote. "He came to me and said, 'All that stuff's in the past.' And as far as I'm concerned, it is. We're going to move forward from there."

Without a farm bill to pass in 2019, there's sure to be less for Republicans and Democrats on the Ag committee to fight over. One possible area of contention will be oversight, which Peterson listed as a priority for the new Congress. Conaway said reauthorizing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is on his to-do list next year.

Building a bench: One of Peterson's top goals is training Democrats on the panel so they're ready to step up on farm policy whenever he leaves Congress.

"Part of the deal is ... they're going to promise me they're going to learn the stuff in their jurisdiction — big time," Peterson said of the soon-to-be subcommittee chairmen. "I need to develop some talent and depth in my bench."

On complicated issues like dairy programs, "Everybody says, 'Just let Peterson do it,'" he said. "It's like, I'm the only guy that everybody comes to. It can't be that way."