As the US Congress continues to discuss and debate legislation relating to next year’s farm bill, one lawmaker has been getting feedback from constituents. 

Senator Chuck Grassley tells Raccoon Valley Radio the past three farm bill town hall meetings he had last month, the top concern has been on crop insurance. 

“We’re very fortunate that about 95-percent of the farmers are protected by crop insurance, so that will be maintained (in next year’s farm bill).”

Grassley talks about another issue he wants to address in the farm bill.

“We have some problems with the unfair competition of the federal government outbidding farmers that pay cash rent when the land and sometimes whole farms are going into CRP (Conservation Reserve Program). I think, contrary to the 2018 farm bill. So I’ve got to find out why the (Biden) Administration is able to pay, in some cases, $50 or $75 more per acre than cash rent would pay.”

The farm bill is considered by Congress every five years and it was last passed in 2018.