Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 1/3/19

The House Agriculture Committee flips to Democratic control today, returning the gavel to Peterson after eight years of Republican reign.

In a wide-ranging interview with yours truly late last month, Peterson covered everything from Trump's trade war to dairy policy and the rural-urban divide. He also made clear he's tired of partisan disputes over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which makes up the lion's share of USDA's budget and falls under the committee's jurisdiction.

A break from SNAP? "I'm not going back to it," Peterson said with a laugh, when asked what changes he'd like to see to the program. "I'm done. It's caused me enough trouble."

New: Fudge will lead nutrition: Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) will chair the nutrition subcommittee, Peterson said. It will be her prerogative to decide whether hearings on SNAP should be held, he noted.

Spotted: Peterson's Rayburn office is replete with taxidermy, including a lot of impressive-looking ducks. In the waiting area outside, a sign reads: "If farming were easy Congressmen would do it."

A few nuggets from the lengthy interview:
— On the farm safety net: "I brought up more than once that the safety net is not good enough," Peterson said, referring to the recent farm bill talks. "... I hope I'm wrong."

— On farmers' patience with Trump's trade war: "Right now, what they say to me is, 'Well, Trump's a businessman, he knows what he's doing. We've just got to give him some time and this will be better.' I don't believe that."

— On moving ERS and NIFA: "I don't think it's a good idea; I'm not for it. But I don't think I can do anything about it."

— On limiting what one can buy with SNAP benefits: "I'm somewhat sympathetic to that, but it's not going to happen."