WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre, who has ascended to be the No. 2 ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, has also been appointed to two key subcommittees for the 113th Congress.

Beginning his 17th year on the committee, McIntyre will serve on both the Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit Subcommittee and the Energy, Conservation, and Forestry Subcommittee.

“Agriculture is extremely vital to North Carolina’s economy, and I will keep working to do all I can to help North Carolina farmers compete and produce crops for our consumption and security,” McIntyre said in a release. “In addition, I will ensure that we protect the vital resources important to farmers, help small communities and towns with rural development needs, and maintain the safety net for our farmers.”

Jurisdiction for the Livestock, Rural Development and Credit Subcommittee includes: livestock, dairy, poultry, meat, seafood and seafood products, inspection, marketing, and promotion of such commodities, aquaculture, animal welfare and grazing, rural development, farm security and family farming matters and agricultural credit.

Jurisdiction for the Energy Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee include: soil, water, and resource conservation, small watershed program, energy and bio-based energy production, rural electrification, forestry in general and forest reserves.

North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District is one of the top livestock producing districts in the country with over $2.1 billion in business from the industry occurring each year. This places the district in the top four percent in the country for livestock production.

Agriculture producers in Eastern North Carolina rank third in turkey production, fourth in pork production, and 19th in chicken production among the 435 Congressional Districts of the United States.