With planting well underway, and in some parts of Iowa completed, KCII News asked U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley what words he had for farmers this planting season. Grassley stated, “Pray for rain.” Currently, 44% of Iowa is not in a drought, with 55% of the state being abnormally dry.

Senator Grassley farms corn and soybeans with his family in Butler County, and works to stay in close touch with the realities facing producers of farm commodities, including livestock. Grassley has been actively involved in the development of the last three Farm Bills. The Farm Bill is the primary agricultural and food policy tool of the federal government. The comprehensive bill authorizes vital programs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the areas of crop insurance, conservation, nutrition, agriculture research, and rural development. Congress has since passed two one-year extensions of the 2018 bill. If Congress does not act, this legislation will again expire in October 2025.