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Grassley endorses farmer assistance, calls for E15 action

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he supports efforts in the House to provide more financial aid to farmers.

The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield the assistance would help address rising input prices.

“The justification for it expressed by the President is the Iran war is drawing up the price of diesel and other products that farmers have to pay, so it’s an offset to things that are beyond the control of the farmer. And I obviously would support that.”

U.S. Representative Brad Finstad of Minnesota recently told Brownfield the House could vote this week on a budget reconciliation package that includes approximately $10 billion in economic aid for farmers.

Grassley says farmers want access to markets, not ad hoc payments.

“They want to get their money from the marketplace, not out of the federal treasury. So another thing the House could do is include E15 in that bill and do more good than that $11 billion is doing.”

Grassley says there aren’t many opportunities left to pass nationwide year-round E15 this year, but Senate leadership is saying it could be a separate bill on the floor of the Senate.