The Senate passed the farm bill today by a vote of 58 to 40. Sen. Chuck Grassley voted for the bill. During the Senate debate, Grassley won approval for his amendments to limit farm program payments to family farms, prohibit packer ownership of livestock, give farmers greater leverage in dispute resolutions, help farmers develop renewable energy sources, avoid trade disputes that hurt farm income and protect farmers who raise livestock under production contracts. Grassley said today that his support for the conference report will depend on how his amendments come out of the bicameral negotiations, especially the provisions to limit farm payments and ban packer ownership of livestock. Following is a comment from Grassley:
"Unlike the bill that came out of the Agriculture Committee, this bill contains key measures that are good for Iowa's family farmers and taxpayers. It targets assistance to small and mid-sized producers, injects greater competition into the industry and improves the quality of life in rural America. Family farmers can rest assured that we've taken key steps to look out for their interests by capping farm subsidies and limiting packer ownership of livestock. That part of this bill is the most significant change to the Packers and Stockyards Act since the program was created in 1921.
"Even though the Senate accepted my amendment to rewrite sections of the farm program that prove to be non-compliant with our international trade agreements, I'm still concerned that the bill doesn't go far enough. Trade is absolutely critical to the family farmer and I don't want to see our farmers face legal retaliation by our trading partners. I'll be counting on conferees to pass a trade-compliant farm bill and to keep my measures that limit farm payments and prohibit packer ownership of livestock."