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Farm bill conference committee to meet; Grassley pushes for payment limits

The House-Senate farm bill conference committee meets Wednesday in Washington.

Committee leaders have been negotiating behind the scenes, trying to resolve differences between the two versions of the farm bill. But, according to most reports, the big issues of SNAP reform, conservation and the final bill’s total cost are still unresolved.

Another question is whether the bill will include Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley’s payment limitations language. Grassley says he’s had several conversations with Senate Ag Committee chair Pat Roberts.

“I get the same and usual argument—that Southern agriculture doesn’t like it,” Grassley says. “But I would expect Roberts to stand firm, considering the fact that I got screwed out of it in the 2014 farm bill conference.”

If payment limits are not included, Grassley says he may vote against the final bill.

“I’m not saying that’s what I’m going to do—but that’s very definitely a possibility,” he says.

Grassley’s amendment would tighten the definition of farm management when qualifying for commodity programs. Farm operations would be restricted to having one non-farming manager who could qualify for 125-thousand dollars a year in subsidies as a manager.

Currently, a family farm can be structured in many ways and multiple couples can be listed as payment-eligible owners or managers.

AUDIO: Chuck Grassley