As I noted yesterday morning, a shift was coming in the Senate Agriculture Committee, and as I suggested, Senator Blanche Lincoln would take the helm. Following yesterday’s announcement that Tom Harkin of Iowa would indeed succeed the late Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts as Chair of the Senate Health, Environment, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Lincoln was introduced as the new leader of the panel, making her the first female and the first Arkansan to hold that post.

Lincoln is actually preceded in seniority by three other Senators, but Senator Leahy of Vermont Chairs the powerful Judiciary Committee, Senator Conrad of North Dakota the Budget, and Senator Baucus of Montana the Finance, prestigious posts none are likely to give up voluntarily anytime soon.

Senator Lincoln was roundly praised by organized agriculture interests including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, National Corn Growers Association, and the National Pork Producers Council.