(Report by Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley says the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is pursuing as the nation’s top health official is worrisome to some Iowa farmers. Kennedy has expressed support in the past for banning the farm chemicals glyphosate and atrazine and, in May, a report from his agency linked environmental chemicals to chronic childhood diseases. Grassley is among the senators who’ve quizzed Kennedy today (Thursday) during a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

“Do you think that any comments you’ve made are consistent with what you said in January, that USDA and EPA ought to be regulating farming and that the Department of Human Services should not seek to regulate farms, the tools they use or the markets that they sell into?” Grassley asked. Kennedy told Grassley he’s been working very, very closely with the U-S secretary of agriculture and is consulting every stakeholder in the farm community.

“To make sure that the MAHA agenda is consistent with their agenda, that we are producing the best food in America, that we’re protecting our soils and our soil microbiome and we’re protecting all kinds of farmers, including those who want to transition to regenerative agriculture.” Regenerative agriculture involves practices like no-till farming that doesn’t disturb the soil and either limiting pesticide and fertilizer applications or not using farm chemicals at all. Grassley also asked Kennedy if he would use his authority to require drug companies to disclose the price of their medication on T-V ads.

“Senator, I think it would be good for us to talk about this off line,” Kennedy says. “We are working on this in our agency and I’m happy to give you the details of what we’re going.” Grassley ended his five-minute time slot in today’s (Thursday’s) hearing by telling Kennedy he expects him to take steps to bar people waiting for organ transplants from skipping ahead of others in line.

In July, Kennedy announced his agency had launched a wide ranging investigation after news reports indicating an organ procurement organization in Kentucky had removed organs from patients who still showed signs of life.