Farm Bill Progress Unlikely
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Ag Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst suggest Senate farm bill talks have collapsed.
Two big clues to the state of Senate farm bill talks fell into place this week. Iowa’s junior Senator Joni Ernst told us outside the chamber …
ERNST … “I really would love to see the Democrats come back to the table and address the issues that we have within the food programs. I haven’t seen a great willingness to do that, yet.”
Suggesting talks between Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow and top Ag Republican John Boozman had collapsed over further GOP proposed food stamp limits.
Senator Chuck Grassley says the two are still talking, but adds …
GRASSLEY … “I think it’s fair to say that there’s no progress made…and you may remember, two months ago, there was going to be a Democrat bill…(Senator) Klobuchar said there won’t be a Democrat bill, and now we’re hearing some more rumors of it. If those rumors are true, then I guess I would agree with you that it’s collapsed—but I can’t say that at this point.”
Grassley says a Democrat or partisan farm bill “won’t fly” and continues to say a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill is looking more likely.
Grassley says it’s “unacceptable” to not do a new farm bill, given the market and weather uncertainty farmers face. And no farm bill means no improvement in price support triggers now five years old.
