As deadline looms, Grassley still hopes Farm Bill extension can be passed

WASHINGTON — Time is running out on Congress passing at least an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he believes negotiations over the Farm Bill extension stalled, but an extension needs to be included in a continuing budget resolution that would keep the government open.   “Now it’s a sad commentary, but negotiations between Democrats and Republicans have resulted in this stalemate, and it’s just an extension of stalemates that have been going on throughout this year on agricultural issues.”

Grassley says he expects a fully-Republican-controlled Congress will be able to get a Farm Bill done in 2025.  “Unfortunately, this has left farmers with a twice-expired Farm Bill and little certainty. We’ve got to bring some certainty at least for the next 12 months with an extension and then hopefully the new Republican Congress passes a new five-year Farm Bill.”

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.