Senator Chuck Grassley today released the following comment after House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte made available their outline for a farm bill.
Grassley is one of only two working family farmers in the United States Senate and has been the leader in ensuring that farm payments go to the farmers who need it most. He has also been an outspoken advocate for more competition in the agriculture industry and has championed several measures including a ban on packer ownership of livestock. Grassley is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee as well as the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee which is responsible for the tax component of the farm bill. He was named a conferee last week.
“I appreciate the House getting the ball rolling on a farm bill, but this effort leaves a lot to be desired. It leaves out many priorities important to farmers, let alone the Senate.
“Specifically, I’m disappointed that the House neglected to include a possible compromise on a competition title. This includes my proposal to ban packer ownership of livestock which would be one of the best things we could do to make sure the forces of the marketplace work for both the benefit of the farmer and the slaughterhouse.
“I also have great concerns that the large cuts to crop insurance will detrimentally impact producers in the way of higher premiums, possibly making crop insurance a less viable choice for producers. It’s important that producers be able to manage their own risk so they don’t have to rely on the whims of Congress for help.
“And, while the proposal does lower the Adjusted Gross Income from the current House and Senate versions of the farm bill, it continues to ignore the unlimited marketing loan gains and loan deficiency payments. The proposal also makes no attempt to tighten up the rules for being actively engaged in farming. Without closing these loopholes an AGI cap is essentially ineffective.
"The House offer also leaves out the agricultural tax relief proposals approved on a bipartisan basis by the Finance Committee and the full Senate. These proposals are critical to an effective farm bill. They cannot be ignored.
“We’re working on ways to improve the House’s proposal. Nobody’s going to get everything they want, but everybody’s voice needs to be heard before we can put together a proposal that we can all live with.”