New farm bill passes over Grassley's objections

By a surprisingly decisive tally, the U.S. House and Senate have overwhelmingly approved an $867 billion farm bill that provides food assistance to low-income Americans, maintains subsidies for agricultural producers, and for the first time since World War II, legalizes industrial hemp nationwide. However, Republican Charles Grassley, a native son from New Hartford and one of just two farmers in the Senate, voted against the legislation and remains one of its fiercest critics.
           
During remarks that he made on the floor at the Capitol last Tuesday, Grassley expressed disappointment in his fellow Senators for failing to adopt an amendment he proposed to limit payments to the immediate family members of farmers and impose a more narrow definition of the term ‘farmer’ itself as it relates to subsidies.
           
“To say I’m disappointed the bill makes more subsidies available to the wealthiest farmers and many non-farmers is a severe understatement—especially when the impact of large farmers being allowed to manipulate the system is that young and beginning farmers face even larger hurdles,” Grassley said. “So far, the bill has not won much praise outside of the Washington lobby groups whose members will receive more taxpayer subsidies from a few select changes.”
           
The bill ultimately passed by a margin of 386-47 in the House (Fourth District Congressman Steve King supported it) and 87-13 in the Senate, and President Trump is expected to sign it. Grassley’s Iowa colleague Joni Ernst, who led a separate effort to reform the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and cap rental rates, also voted in favor of the bill. 
 
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