Grassley Goes to the Mat for Family Farmers


Senator Works House Floor to Keep Payments Aimed at Small, Mid-sized Producers


? Sen. Chuck Grassley today is working with Rep. Nick Smith of Michigan to win support in the U.S. House for a motion that would instruct farm bill conferees to adopt the payment limitations provisions included in the Senate farm bill.

At the end of last week, the reports out of the conference committee indicated that Senate Democrat conferees wanted to increase the payment limit of $275,000 to a total cap of $560,000. Current law limits payments to $460,000.

"As a Senator, I've never gone to the House floor. But, this issue is so important to family farmers that I want to do everything I can to make sure they aren't shortchanged," Grassley said. "If Congress doesn't set credible payment limits in this farm bill, then we're making family farmers more vulnerable to greater resistance from the public to helping family farmers in the future. Ultimately, that could mean so-long to the safety net and, in turn, the family farmer."

Rep. Greg Ganske of Iowa spoke in favor of the motion.