In this last installment from Vice President Mike Pence?s food supply chain roundtable discussion, we hear from Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. The Senator talked about the stress facing Iowa farmers. Grassley mentioned an adage he has often remembered that we are never more than nine meals away from a riot. If the fighting over toilet paper is any indication, imagine what fights over food would look like.
Senator Grassley says that during the 5 weeks when the Senate was not in session, ninety percent of the calls he received were from family farmers and their advocacy groups. He says the stress isn?t just financial, but that money is a big part of it.
Grassley put the numbers in perspective for the Vice President and others in attendance. The senator compared the price of corn now and in the 60s. Then he compared the prices of tractors for the same time period. True, the number of bushels per acre has improved and we are producing more grain, but when you hear these numbers, it gives you a different outlook on the situation.
The Senator said farmers are upset when it comes to low prices for their goods, but see the consumer paying top-dollar for food. He said somebody should have to answer for that. The senator says hardships from hits to the food supply chain should be affecting more than just farmers and consumers. The whole supply chain should feel the effects, instead, it seems that some are profiting even more by it.
Senator Grassley says that farmers are usually very optimistic. However, right now there is very little of it left. This is despite the fact that we have seen the best planting conditions in a long time. Grassley said that farmers must be able to keep producing so we aren?t only nine meals away from rioting.
