Grassley gives update on Farm Bill extension progress

WASHINGTON — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s still confident an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill will be included in a continuing budget resolution that needs to be passed before the end of year.

Grassley says he hopes disaster aid and market relief assistance for farmers will be included with the extension.  “There’s a lot of talk and discussion on that, and I think things that deal with natural disaster are probably more certain to be dealt with than maybe the economic disaster, but I wouldn’t want to say that the latter is out because it’s still in the discussion stage.”

Grassley does not expect the Farm Bill extension would include extending Inflation Reduction Act funds to support USDA conservation programs, saying that it’s something Arkansas Senator John Boozman, the ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, does not support.  “Our focus as Republicans is more of what you’ve heard me say so many times, more farm in the Farm Bill, meaning preference prices being enhanced. Then I’d have to say there’s still negotiations going on, but I think I can speak for Boozman, at least as his staff speaks to my staff because I’ve not talked to him about it, but I think he does not want those things in the final bill this year.”

A one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30th. Congress must vote by the end of the year for another extension or federal farm payment programs revert to rules established in 1938 and 1949.