WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today participated in a Senate Agriculture subcommittee hearing to advocate for policies that would benefit farmers with “dirt under their fingernails” and foster opportunities for new and emerging farmers. The Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade convened to examine legislative strategies to improve pathways to the ag industry for generations to come. 

Watch Grassley’s questioning above. Excerpts follow.

Reference Prices in the Farm Bill:

“[…T]he Farm Bill needs to be updated to reflect the realities of farming today – not six years ago, when the 2018 Farm Bill was passed. Farmers today face the increased input costs of diesel, fertilizer, chemicals, seed and interest rates.

“Mr. Good [Farm Owner/Operator in Mississippi...], please speak to how an increase in reference prices for corn and soybeans would impact your farm.”

Commodity Program Payment Limits:

“I've been a strong advocate for higher reference prices for Title I commodity programs. I believe with those higher reference prices there should be common sense payment limitations on those programs. [...] As I have pointed out early and often, just 10 percent of farm operations receive 70 percent of all yearly farm payment subsidies.

“Ms. Parks [Minnesota farmer and National Farmers Union member]: Do you think closing loopholes so that only 'actively engaged' – that’s a legal term, or as I like to say, farmers with dirt under their fingernails – receive Title I payments can help beginning farmers compete with larger operations?"

Crop Insurance Improvements:

“Crop insurance is vital for making sure farmers can get through to the next year despite weathering difficult times outside their control – and I’m not just talking about the weather, there's political decisions, embargoes, lots of things farmers don’t control. We have a bill that goes by the acronym, the FARMER Act, which would make crop insurance more affordable for farmers across the board.

“Mr. Good: Can you speak to how increasing the affordability of crop insurance would benefit young farmers?”

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