Agriculture / Rural Development
Iowa has a global reputation as an agricultural powerhouse. As the leading producer of pork, corn, soybeans and eggs, production agriculture anchors the state’s economy, helps ensure America’s food security and feeds millions of people from around the world. From the farm to the fork, Iowa’s agricultural abundance creates jobs all along the food chain. As a farmer-lawmaker, Senator Grassley brings real world experience to the policymaking fields in Washington, D.C. His leadership positions on the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Agriculture and Budget Committees provide a unique opportunity to shape tax, international trade, regulatory and spending policy that will shape the future of farming in the 21st century.


As work moves forward to renew the Farm Bill, Senator Grassley is continuing his crusade to improve imbalances in the federal farm payment system that reward mega-producers and leave less for small and mid-sized family farms; clamp down on concentration and anti-competitive practices that penalize independent producers; help beginning farmers get a good start in their capital- and labor-intensive profession; enact a mandatory country-of-origin labeling law; and, educate federal regulators when they try to nail a square peg in a round hole.


Senator Grassley has earned a reputation in Washington as a voice for American agriculture. And for as long as he is serving Iowans in the U.S. Senate, he’ll always work to do right by the family farmer.


Tell Senator Grassley what you think about this issue.

Related Press Releases
December 17, 2008 - Transciption: Grassley Agriculture News Conference
December 9, 2008 - Krysilis Awarded $120,000 in Guaranteed Loans for Rural Development
December 3, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $3.3 Million in Loans for Rural Development in Dysart
November 25, 2008 - Transcript of Senator Grassley's Agriculture Radio Show
October 23, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $232 Million in Loans and Grants to Iowa from USDA
October 23, 2008 - Grassley organizes senators to call on USDA to let small farms combine for farm program participation
October 2, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $334.5 Million in Guaranteed Electric Loans from U.S. Department of Agriculture
September 30, 2008 - “Actively Engaged” in the farm bill
September 29, 2008 - Senate Clears Modified 10-Acre Rule Legislation
September 23, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $2 Million in Loans and Grants to Iowa Lakes Regional Water from USDA
September 23, 2008 - Senators Work to Clarify 10-Acre Rule
September 19, 2008 - Grassley: $42,280 to Iowa from USDA
September 18, 2008 - Grassley Honored for Leadership in Agriculture
September 12, 2008 - Senators Fight for Farm Bill Safety Net
September 10, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $1 Million in Grants to Iowa from USDA
September 8, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $1.3 Million in Loans and Grants to Iowa from USDA
September 4, 2008 - Grassley Asks Why Iowa Shortchanged
September 4, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $1.4 Million to Iowa from USDA
August 27, 2008 - Grassley: More than $13 Million to Iowa from USDA
August 26, 2008 - Grassley: $500,000 to Iowa Department of Transportation for Traffic and Criminal Software Improvements
August 26, 2008 - Grassley: 945,000 to Iowa from USDA
August 22, 2008 - Grassley: $5 Million Loan to Grundy Electric Cooperative from USDA
August 19, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $5.6 Million in Loans and Grants to Iowa from USDA
August 19, 2008 - Grassley: $331,170 to Iowa from USDA
August 18, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $1.8 Million to Iowa from USDA
August 15, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $22.5 Million to Iowa from USDA
August 12, 2008 - Grassley: $72,200 in Loans and Grants to Warren Water District from USDA
August 12, 2008 - Iowa Senators Lead Effort to Maintain Farm Program Payments for Smaller Farms
August 11, 2008 - Grassley: $6,505 to Iowa from USDA
August 8, 2008 - Grassley: More Than $1.9 Million in Loans and Grants to Iowa from USDA
August 7, 2008 - Grassley: $150,000 in Loans and Grants to Iowa from USDA
August 6, 2008 - Grassley: Haying allowed on CRP acres in Presidential Disaster Areas
August 1, 2008 - Grassley: Nearly $315,000 in Loans and Grants to Carroll County from USDA
July 31, 2008 - Grassley: $70,000 loan to Iowa from USDA
July 29, 2008 - Grassley: $6,375 to Iowa from USDA
June 13, 2008 - Grassley asks USDA for early release of CRP Acres
May 15, 2008 - Grassley: $1.38 million to Iowa from USDA
May 14, 2008 - Senate Farm Bill Conference Report Floor Consideration
May 8, 2008 - GRASSLEY REITERATES REFORMS IN FARM BILL
May 8, 2008 - Grassley: Nearly $4 million in Loans and Grants to Xenia Rural Water District from USDA
May 7, 2008 - Concentration in Agriculture and an Examination of the JBS/Swift Acquisitions
May 7, 2008 - Grassley: $5 million Loan Guarantee to Central Iowa Expo from USDA
May 2, 2008 - Grassley Pushes for Quick Action on Government Purchase of Excess Pork
May 2, 2008 - Grassley: $506,000 in Loans and Grants to Pocahontas from USDA
April 30, 2008 - Grassley: $834,000 in Grants and Loans to Avoca from USDA
April 30, 2008 - Grassley: $1.3 million to Iowa State University from the National Science Foundation
April 28, 2008 - Grassley: $110,000 grant and $33,000 loan to Eastern Iowa Regional Utility Services System from USDA
April 24, 2008 - Grassley: $41,250 to Central Decatur Community School District from USDA
April 21, 2008 - Reform Provisions in Senate Agriculture Tax Package
February 8, 2008 - Grassley Q & A: Black History Month
January 14, 2008 - Office of Civil Rights hearing agreed to
November 27, 2007 - Grassley Asks for Oversight Hearings on USDA Office of Civil Rights
October 17, 2007 - Farm Bill
August 3, 2007 - Grassley Calls for More Investment in Rural Areas Via Tax Credit Program
July 24, 2007 - Grassley Questions USDA about Farm Payments to Dead Farmers
July 24, 2007 - Hearing on Oversight of Government Tax Policy in Farm Country
July 17, 2007 - Senators Inform Pelosi of Senate Legislation to Limit Farm Payments
July 11, 2007 - Grassley, Kohl, Thune Work to Keep Competition in Agriculture
June 21, 2007 - Grassley Testifies on Pigford Claims Remedy Act of 2007
June 15, 2007 - Grassley Honored for Leadership in Agriculture
June 6, 2007 - Senators Ask for Payment Limits Legislation to be Included in the Farm Bill
May 29, 2007 - Grassley, Dorgan Introduce Bill to limit Payments Under the Federal Farm Program
May 10, 2007 - Grassley, Johnson Take Steps to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil
May 10, 2007 - Grassley: Passage of Water Resources Development Act Crucial to Agriculture
May 4, 2007 - Smithfield/Premium Standard Farms acquisition approved by Justice Dept.
March 22, 2007 - Payment Limits Amendment on Budget Resolution
March 20, 2007 - Grassley Introduces Amendment to Put Hard Cap on Farm Payments
March 8, 2007 - Agriculture Concentration and Generic Drugs Discussed at Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing
March 6, 2007 - Grassley, Feingold Continue Efforts to Ensure Daily Spot Market for Independent Producers
February 28, 2007 - Grassley Asks Treasury Secretary to Assist Iowa Farmers Caught in Major Storms
February 7, 2007 - Grassley Introduces Legislation to Help Black Farmers Receive Justice from USDA
January 16, 2007 - Grassley Works to Ban Packer Ownership of Livestock
January 11, 2007 - Grassley Introduces First Piece of Competition Agenda
December 19, 2006 - Grassley to Press for More Competition in Agriculture During Farm Bill Debate
December 6, 2006 - Grassley, Latham Resolution Honors Dr. Norman Borlaug with Congressional Gold Medal
December 5, 2006 - Grassley Works to Keep EPA from Regulating Farm Dust
October 13, 2006 - Grassley: EPA Administrator to Visit Iowa October 18
September 29, 2006 - Grassley Praises Trade Case Affirming Safety of Agricultural Biotech Products
September 26, 2006 - Grassley Invites EPA Administrator to Iowa to Show How Dust Rule Would Impact Family Farmers
September 21, 2006 - Senate Passes Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting
September 19, 2006 - Grassley: U.S.-Oman Trade Pact Yields Market Access for U.S. Farmers, Manufacturers
July 24, 2006 - Prepared Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley, Senate Agriculture Committee, Farm Bill Field Hearing
July 21, 2006 - Grassley Asks Johanns to Consider Iowa Requests for Emergency Use of CRP
July 19, 2006 - Grassley Works to Pass Water Resources Development Act
June 20, 2006 - Grassley Urges Retention of Law Benefiting U.S. Exporters, Including Corn Refiners, Pork Producers
June 6, 2006 - Grassley on Reports of Korean Delay of Resumed U.S. Beef Imports
May 4, 2006 - Grassley Asks USDA to Rethink BSE Testing Policy
February 7, 2006 - Grassley Proposes Resolution Honoring Dr. Norman Borlaug
December 16, 2005 - Grassley: Farmers Should Have More Options in Contract Disputes
December 12, 2005 - Grassley and Harkin Release GAO Report on Mandatory Price Reporting
November 3, 2005 - Grassley Reacts to Payment Limits Vote
November 2, 2005 - Grassley Seeks to Cap Farm Payments and Focus Farm Programs to Small and Medium Sized Farms
October 19, 2005 - Grassley Prepared Statement on Agriculture Budget Reconciliation Package
September 7, 2005 - Grassley and Harkin Introduce Legislation to Extend Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting Act
September 6, 2005 - Grassley: Housing in Iowa Available for Hurricane Victims through USDA
June 24, 2005 - Grassley comments on Confirmation of Mad Cow Disease in U.S.
June 22, 2005 - Statement of Sen. Chuck Grassley at the Senate Agriculture Hearing on Mandatory Price Reporting
April 1, 2005 - Grassley Questions Proposed Rule That Could Put Crop Insurance Program at Risk
October 13, 2004 - $1.4 Million in Value Added Grants to Iowa
October 6, 2004 - Grassley Advances Tax Incentives, Fairness for Farmers, Cooperatives, Small Businesses
May 14, 2004 - Grassley Praises Appointment of Iowan to be Chairman of Farm Credit Administration Board
April 2, 2004 - Grassley on Today's Job Gains Announcement
March 23, 2004 - Grassley Continues to Question Agriculture Department on Soybean Rust Precautions
March 19, 2004 - Grassley Praises Key New Tax Guidance for Farmers
March 4, 2004 - Grassley Payment Limits Amendment Passes Budget Committee
March 3, 2004 - Grassley Readies Payment Limits Amendment to Budget Debate
February 27, 2003 - Grassley Looks to Protect Corn and Soybeans from Concentration
March 13, 2002 - Grassley Seeks Conference Support for Independent Livestock Producers