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
House ag leaders had hoped to get the Farm Bill voted on by Easter, but no dates have been secured just yet.
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Kansas congressman Dan Glickman joined RFD News to share his outlook on agricultural policy, bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges facing farmers today.
The bill has already cleared the House Agriculture Committee and is headed toward a full House vote, but the timeline for final passage remains unclear. But the question is, when exactly? Could it possibly be a nice little gift for Easter?
National Pork Producers Council incoming president Rob Brenneman shares insights from the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, where producers gathered to discuss Farm Bill policy, sustainability, and other priorities for the year ahead.
USDA Under Secretary Richard Fordyce says the department stands ready to provide technical assistance with the Farm Bill if Congress requests it.
The American Coalition for Ethanol reacts as the Farm Bill heads to a full House vote — while ethanol expansion, including year-round E15, is left out — as well as the USDA’s pursuit of global markets for ethanol.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
Large-scale land purchases signal rising competition for ranchland, reinforcing its value while reshaping long-term access and control in rural agriculture.
Brian Earnest, an animal protein economist with CoBank, shares insights into current demand trends and the challenges facing broiler production.
Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.
AFBF Economist Faith Parum discusses the financial challenges currently facing farmers and the Farm Bureau’s 2026 outlook for the farm economy.