Iowa Republican Joni Ernst Defeats Democrat Bruce Braley to Replace Tom Harkin

This race is seismic for agriculture lobby influence. Iowa is corn country and they don’t let candidates forget it. John McCain wounded his presidential campaign by not bowing down to the corn ethanol throne. So when Ernst initially wavered on support for federally mandated biofuel support, it looked like a mortal blow.

But once Ernst figured out rural “conservatives” can suspend disbelief for federal government ethanol mandates and farm subsidies without penalty from voters, she had the edge on Braley–despite his gold-plated Iowa Corn growers Association endorsement.

Enrst will be a reliable conservative in the culture wars and now a reliable conservative hypocrite on farm welfare. However, she does hew to Chuck Grassley’s payment limit ideas, so that’s something.

Kansas Republican Senator Pat Roberts Hangs on by his Fingernails

A DC address coupled with a lazy campaign nearly cost him. Roberts jettisoned decades of agriculture policy accomplishments for Kansas farmers, to focus solely on attacking President Obama. Now with Thad Chochran looking elsewhere, Roberts could be the new chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. And that’s terrible news for advocates of small and organic farms.

Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson Hangs on by his Fingernails

It’s hard to find a more reliable and knowledgeable commodity agriculture advocate in Congress. Dude got Pelosi to eat a pork chop on a stick and kill the best chance in recent memory for a reform minded farm bill. And he still struggled.

Say this about Peterson, he ran the race Pat Roberts should have, and focused on what he’s delivered ag-wise to his constituents. And in his district, it worked.