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Grassley on House Speakership, likelihood of farm bill extension

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests whoever is named Speaker of the House will have little or no bearing on getting the farm bill done.

“I think they’re entirely separate, and I think at this late stage of the game it’s impossible to get anything much more than a one-year extension or a two-year extension of the existing farm bill.”

On a call with ag reporters Tuesday, the Iowa Republican said an extension means farmers will have to wait to see a potential increase in reference prices.

“Because of the increase in the costs of fertilizer, seed, and chemicals, and the 2018 (Farm Bill) doesn’t reflect that increased cost and we ought to be able to do it.”

Grassley says the next Speaker won’t stand in the way of a new farm bill because of the importance of the nutrition program in the House of Representatives.