Sen. Grassley: A five-year Farm Bill will be a heavy lift, and SNAP is a big part of it

The Farm Bill is still top of mind for many in agriculture. However, some lawmakers warn a five-year bill will be a heavy lift.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says SNAP is still a major player in Farm Bill talks, and says anymore pushback could put farmers in another bad spot.

“We’ll be in the same boat we were before. Instead of having a five-year farm bill or six-year or seven, we’d have an eight-year farm bill, which isn’t right for farmers. Whether SNAP is in reconciliation or whether we make those decisions in the five-year farm bill, we’re still going to have to have the reauthorization of the food stamp program.”

Before lawmakers can touch the Farm Bill, they have to iron out budget details. House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that he wants that done by Memorial Day, opening the door for Farm Bill discussions.

Related Stories
Local groups distribute potatoes to support hundreds of families across the Idaho Panhandle to celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month.
The White House’s plan calls for a nearly 20 percent reduction in the USDA’s budget, which would impact various food and agriculture aid programs.
More Farms File for Bankruptcy As Strong Farm Loan Demand Boosts Bank Earnings
The 2026 Farm Bill advances out of committee, but political divisions delay final passage as lawmakers push to protect farmers, SNAP, and crop insurance programs.
As ag lawmakers in the Senate await the House vote on the Farm Bill, they are eager to discuss the challenges farmers face before it is their turn to take up the critical legislation.
House ag leaders had hoped to get the Farm Bill voted on by Easter, but no dates have been secured just yet.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Nationwide Agribusiness joins us in honor of National Safety Month, sharing some steps employers and workers can take to stay protected on the farm.
The Virginia Farm Bureau shows us how robotic milking technology has become a lifeline to the Commonwealth’s dairy industry, increasing production efficiency in the face of low milk prices and rising labor costs.
Keeping a close eye on Capitol Hill, farmers and ranchers wait with bated breath as President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” heads to the Senate. AFBF economist Danny Munch joins us for a closer look.
Over 94 percent of U.S. dairy farms are family-owned, carrying forward a legacy built over generations that supports three million jobs and generates more than $40 billion in wages.