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Grassley says 2023 Farm Bill probably won’t include cattle market reform

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa says it isn’t likely his proposed cattle market reform will be included in the 2023 Farm Bill. He tells Brownfield Senator Fischer, one of the main leaders in this area, has told the leadership of the (Senate Ag) Committee that she doesn’t want it included in the farm bill. “So with her saying that it’s pretty difficult for us to move ahead,” he says. 

But, Grassley says that doesn’t mean it won’t come up in debate. “There are enough people on the committee that we could get it included,” he says. “So I’m not giving up on that, but that kind of discouraged our opportunity.”

In a statement to Brownfield, a spokesperson for Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska said the Senator is committed to getting her cattle market reform bill done and is focused on getting the farm bill passed. “Strategically, the best path forward to getting the cattle bill signed into law is as a separate legislative effort. In the Senate, given the vast, bipartisan support for the bill, Senator Schumer should give the legislation a vote on the floor this fall.”

He says Senator Jon Tester’s (of Montana) re-election could also play a key role in getting the bill brought before the Senate.  “With Tester being up for reelection, he may say to Schumer that he needs that legislation to get reelected,” he says.  “And I would think Schumer want to do all he could to help test or get reelected.”

The proposed bill, sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Jon Tester of Montana was re-introduced earlier this year.  It would establish regional cash minimums to increase transparency and accountability in the cattle market.  It would also provide producers with more market information and permanently authorize a cattle contract library. 

Grassley says some momentum behind the proposed bill has been lost because cattle prices are much better than they were a year ago.  But, he says, that doesn’t negate the need for the legislation.  Grassley says the bill would have to be voted out of the Senate Ag Committee before moving to the full Senate.