(Des Moines, IA) — Work on a new U.S. Farm Bill is underway in Washington. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa blames Democrats for the timing of a last-minute bill that was introduced Monday.
Grassley says there’s no chance the bill will be passed before the Senate session ends this year. At odds between the Senate Farm Bill and the House Bill is funding for food stamps and the safety net for farmers.
In addition, the Iowa Pork Producers say they’re not happy with the proposed farm bill. They say it doesn’t address California’s Proposition 12 which restricts the sale of products from animals raised in specific confinement systems. The Prop 12 law has led to concerns among pork producers who may need to invest millions to comply with the regulations if they want to sell in California. Congress is expected to pass a short-term extension for farm programs, with hopes of passing a new five-year farm bill next year.
