Grassley: Iowa Farmers Say Pass E15 Now, End California’s Proposition 12

Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore “ What’s on the Minds of Iowa Farmers ” Thursday, June 11, 2026 VIDEO As I hold my annual 99 county meetings, I always hear from the farmers about the ag economy, and it’s a top concern for all Iowans...because Iowa is the number one state in the nation for food production. Yesterday, I welcomed the opportunity to discuss what’s on the minds of family farmers with Agriculture Secretary Rollins, as she appeared for her annual oversight appearance before the Senate Agriculture Committee. And it happens that I believe that the Madam Secretary is a great advocate for the family farmers, and I appreciate how she’s handling the office of Agriculture Secretary. Now, back home in Iowa, I hear Congress could do more to help the farmers. For instance, I hear about year-round E15. Now that’s good for the consumers because it would reduce gas prices 20 to 40 cents, but it’s also good because our major crop in Iowa, corn, is [what] ethanol is manufactured from. And then, I also hear from the agriculture community [that] we need to deal with the problem of the state of California having what’s called Proposition 12. And that prohibits Iowa pork that isn’t raised just exactly the way California says it [should be] raised, it can’t be sold in the state of California. And it ought to irritate members of Congress because one of the 18 powers of Congress, under the Constitution, Article I, is the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. So, we have one state out of 50, California, saying that you can’t sell pork in their state, and California’s about 15% of [the] consumer [pork] market in the United States, if it isn’t raised just exactly [how] the law of California says it should be raised. So, the farmers of Iowa are telling me, “Get rid of Proposition 12!” Now, basics of a strong society [are] feeding our people. And, through the tax bill that the president signed last July 4th, called “ The Working Families Tax Cuts, ” was a good start to strengthening farm programs because we strengthened the farm safety net by raising support prices for corn to $4.10 and soybeans to $10 a bushel. But that isn’t enough to help farmers that are underwater, not making a profit. So, there’s more work that needs to be done. So here, in somewhat of a repetitive statement, it’s time for the Senate to pass a five-year Farm Bill. The last one was 2018. Inflation affecting agriculture demands that there be some changes in the 2018 Farm Bill, and that we pass E15 by law and not rely on presidential waivers anymore, and that we [get rid of] Proposition 12 to get rid of the bad environment in California for selling our product there of pork, because Iowa’s the number one pork producer in the nation. -30-