Grassley said that the hearing will include testimony from family farmers regarding their own efforts to increase their leverage in the marketplace. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 26, in Washington.
Grassley said that he also plans to urge Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to increase slaughter capacity to exceed 2.2 million head per week and to support an enhanced federally-backed loan guarantee program and interest buy-down program for small and mid-sized producers. Yesterday, Glickman announced that USDA was taking some steps to help pork producers through the toughest economic times they have faced in 35 years. "I hope that the secretary is willing to fully exercise his authority to take the additional steps I am suggesting," Grassley said.
Last month, Grassley wrote to more than 30 meatpackers across the country, asking them to expand slaughter capacity to help Iowa pork producers. "Increasing slaughter capacity will be central to helping producers survive the crisis we're in right now," Grassley said.
Grassley is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.