Senator Chuck Grassley has been a staunch critic of wasteful spending by today’s government, including in agriculture.
He has repeatedly accused the Biden administration of abusing Commodity Credit Corporation Funds. He took to the Senate floor to express his disappointment in one of the USDA;s final acts under the administration, to increase payment limits for specialty crop farmers from $15,000 to $900,000 under the Marketing Assistance for Speciality Crops Program.
“This increase cost American taxpayers over $650 million, without a vote of a Congress. Had this been the desire of Congress, it would have been included in the Continuing Resolution passed just weeks before,” the Senator notes. “Article 1 of the Consitution is very clear. Congress has the power of the purse; it’s time we stop the abuse of that power by the executive branch, whether that’s Republican or Democrat.”
Senator Grassley says that he plans to advocate for limits on the amount of money that one farmer can get from government farm programs, preventing the subsidization of big farms from becoming even bigger, and focusing that spending on small to medium-sized farms.
He looks forward to pursuing the cap in the new five-year Farm Bill to come.
Dave Duquette, founder of Western Justice, joined us to discuss wolf management, rancher concerns, efforts to return control to the states, and his upcoming documentary, “Wolves: True Conflict.”
March 25, 2026 02:48 PM
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Citrus production depends heavily on reliable irrigation, making water shortages a critical issue for South Texas growers moving forward.
March 25, 2026 01:47 PM
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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy and under the Clean Air Act, approved the temporary measure to help stabilize fuel supplies and reduce costs for consumers.
March 25, 2026 01:16 PM
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As farmers and ranchers navigate rising input costs, lawmakers are considering a roughly $15 billion aid package to help, which would be tied to the spending bill for the war with Iran.
March 25, 2026 12:46 PM
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After devastating wildfires swept through Nebraska, Sen. Deb Fischer is championing a bill to expedite the relief process for farmers and ranchers. She joins us with updates on recovery efforts, conditions on the ground, and how the ag community has stepped up to help.
March 25, 2026 10:58 AM
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Corn and soybean shipments continue to move at a steady pace as spring trade flows develop.
March 25, 2026 08:00 AM
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