Grassley and bipartisan group ask for indemnity livestock depopulation

by | May 12, 2020 | 5 Ag Stories, News

The story of what farmers are having to deal with is truly heartbreaking. Farmers are having to depopulate perfectly healthy hogs and chickens in the face of this pandemic. Not only is it emotionally distressing, but it is also an unprecedented financial hardship nobody could have prepared for. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) joined with a bipartisan group of Senators urging more funding to allow the United States Department of Agriculture to financially assist producers during this time.

On Monday, Fourteen Senators sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging action to benefit producers. Indemnity payments to farmers for depopulation was not covered under the $16 billion in payments to help farmers suffering financial hardship with market prices and demand falling during this pandemic. Grassley said depopulation was not even a consideration when the full $19 billion dollar package was put together.

Senator Grassley feels there may be some money on the Commodity Credit Corporation to help. However, he is certain it will not be enough.

Grassley says that producers cannot wait, and funding must be secured. The time to act is now and failure is not an option.

Joining Grassley on this bipartisan letter were: Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).