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Grassley pushes USDA on ‘actively engaged’

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wants the USDA to create a new rule to better define who can qualify as “actively engaged in farming” when it comes to receiving federal farm payments.

Grassley has sent a letter—co-signed by several of his congressional colleagues– to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, reminding him that the clarification of “actively engaged” is a requirement of the 2014 farm bill.

“The point that we’re trying to get across to Secretary Vilsack is that the language from the farm bill enables the Department of Agriculture to limit the number of people who can be designated as ‘actively engaged’ per entity,” Grassley says.

With the costs associated with the farm bill receiving more and more scrutiny, Grassley believes that ending any abuse of those farm subsidies is extremely important.

“Ending the abuse of farm subsidies is one thing we can do to make finding support for the farm bill much easier as we go into the future,” he says.

Grassley sought to include stronger farm payment limitations in the 2014 farm bill, but his amendments were removed from the final legislation.

AUDIO: Excerpt from Grassley’s conference call with ag reporters