During his weekly call with farm reporters Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) gave his opinion on the last minute Farm Bill introduced Monday by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow.

“The timing of this bill is disappointing and unrealistic,” said Grassley. “It’s a sad commentary that Senate Democrats kept farmers waiting two years before even releasing a bill text, while grain prices fell below the cost of production.”

Grassley says there clearly is not enough time to pass a bill before the end of the year. “After this week, we only have three weeks before Christmas. So I expect Congress to pass another short term extension.”

Asked why he thought Sen. Stabenow would make such a move when she is retiring from Congress at the end of the year, Grassley speculated, “One, I think to show that she is willing to show her hand so she can’t be condemned without having at least her ideas put into text. And the second thing may be laying down a gauntlet for Democrats to follow in the next new Congress.”

Grassley also gave his thoughts on who President-elect Trump should choose for Secretary of Agriculture. “Somebody with dirt under their fingernails, active farming. Nothing in regard to policy that I can think of, because I think those first two things I stated probably speaks for all I need to know about somebody that knows something about agriculture if they’re going to be Agriculture Secretary.”