WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley recently received the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union. The Golden Triangle Award is the organization’s highest award and given to members of Congress who have demonstrated leadership on issues relevant to America’s family farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
“I’m honored to be given this award. As a family farmer myself, I understand the ups and downs that come with farming,” Grassley said. “I will continue to push for federal policies that allow American agriculture to feed and fuel the world.”
Grassley is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee as well as ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and was actively involved in the farm bill.
The farm bill included key Grassley initiatives to eliminate the three entity rule and stop the practice of forcing mandatory arbitrations on growers that need dispute resolution.
During the farm bill, Grassley also worked to reform the farm payment system and made great efforts to increase competition in agriculture. His legislation to put a hard cap on farm payments of $250,000, received a majority of 56 votes, but was required to get 60 votes for passage, despite a previous commitment for a majority vote. Grassley has been the leading advocate to ensure farm payments are directed to small and medium sized farmers.
Grassley also won Senate approval of legislation to ban packer ownership of livestock, but it was not included in the final bill that was passed by the House and Senate.