Grassley Worried About Iowa Ag Economy Under Republican Leadership

Senator admits low crop prices, high input costs, and Trump’s tariffs are taking their toll

Des Moines – Senator Grassley got frank in an interview with Brownfield News at the State Fair on Thursday. In his view, the nations’ agricultural industry is not doing well:

Sale prices are low:

“Even at $4.10 for corn the new reference price, and $10 for soybeans, it’s still way under the cost of production.”

Tariffs are raising input costs:

“One of the phosphate companies that sells in the United States has 80% of the market. One time we were fighting tariffs from Morocco because we get some phosphate there. The president was going to put a 25% tariff on potash out of Canada and we got that stopped. At least momentarily got it stopped, depending on what the president does today and the next day it might be a little bit different.”

[There is currently a 10 percent tariff on potash imports from Canada.] 

Republicans have failed for years to pass a new farm bill:

“I will bet you that we’ll still have farmers at my county meetings asking when we’re going to pass a five-year farm bill. We were supposed to do it in 2023 and 2024. Will we do it in 2025? I hope so.”

Trump’s chaotic policies are hurting farmers:

“This deals with the uncertainty of agricultural production and sales, the uncertainty maybe has depressed prices somewhat, so the extent to which farmers don’t have to worry about countries retaliating against us … that’s what’s up in the air.”

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