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.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding discusses the recent surge in bird flu cases, the state’s expanded biosecurity response and efforts to support poultry producers.
March 03, 2026 12:16 PM
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Geopolitical risk is rapidly increasing fertilizer price volatility before planting.
March 03, 2026 11:20 AM
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Kurt Kovarik of Clean Fuels Alliance America joined us to break down the latest developments in the Renewable Fuel Standard rulemaking process and what it could mean for agriculture, energy markets, and rural economies.
March 02, 2026 02:25 PM
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Jennifer Tirey of the Illinois Pork Producers Association joined us to discuss efforts to bring pork back into Chicago Public Schools, the nutritional benefits for students, and what the decision could mean for pork producers across the state.
March 02, 2026 02:23 PM
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Farmer and retired colonial Joe Ricker joined us to highlight Ag Safety Awareness Program Week, share his work supporting veterans and farmers, and offer guidance on making safety a year-round priority on the farm.
March 02, 2026 02:22 PM
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Dry conditions may tighten hay supplies before summer growth. John Mays of Central Life Sciences joined us to discuss the risks of extended grain storage, how quality can be affected over time, and what growers can do to protect their grain while waiting for market opportunities.
March 02, 2026 02:21 PM
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