Grassley says rumors flying on Farm Bill

WASHINGTON — The clock ticks toward a potential government shutdown and questions continue to be asked about the status of a possible extension of the Farm Bill.

The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee this week said there was nothing to announce about the progress of a new five-year Farm Bill, but Senate Ag Committee chairwoman Debbie Stabenow says any new Farm Bill needs to consider agricultural and public nutrition programs equally.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the prospects of a new Farm Bill being approved are dim but he says there’s plenty of talk going around on some temporary relief being provided in the ag appropriations process.  “That’s possible. I haven’t had any conversation on that subject. There’s some rumors around town, but I haven’t been a part of these rumors, but I’ve picked up that Stabenow is looking at doing something on the continuing resolution. Exactly what it is, we don’t know and we haven’t heard her speak specifically about it.”

  A one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires on September 30th.