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Grassley tells farmers not to worry as 2014 Farm Bill expires

Longtime U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is telling farmers not to get too concerned about the expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill.

“While this isn’t an ideal situation, commodity programs, crop insurance, and existing CRP programs will operate like normal through the end of this calendar year.”

On a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Grassley says he has no doubt Congress will either pass a new Farm Bill or extend the current one in the Lame Duck Session.

“We’re not going to have no Farm Bill for next year, at least that hasn’t been the pattern for the last 60 or 70 years.  So we’ll reenact the 2014 Farm Bill like we did in 2013 with the 2008 Farm Bill.”

Grassley expressed frustration towards House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway for trying to secure more farm bill dollars for cotton at the expense of corn and soybean farmers.

“Cotton just got a billion dollars through another action of Congress here in the last six months.  When are they ever going to be satisfied?  What does it take to satisfy the cotton farmers?”

Grassley was also miffed by Conaway’s proposal to remove payment limitations in the House farm bill.