by Whitney Flach
Senator Ernst pressed Secretary Tom Vilsack on the harmful effects farmers, ranchers, land owners, and consumers face in Iowa from costly and burdensome federal regulations on the agriculture industry. She did this at the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry hearing.
Ernst stressed that less federal government involvement is better for people. She said, ?I?m hearing mostly from our Iowans, especially the farmers, the ranchers, and our land owners, is that it really feels like the federal government is out to get them, and I see that a lot with a number of the rules and regulations that are coming forward.?
Ernst also highlighted concerns with the USDA?s proposed Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) Rule. This would inflict high costs on the livestock industry. Secretary Vilsack, agreed to providing a public comment period for stakeholders to express their updated concerns for the proposed GIPSA Rule if implemented by the administration.
Vilsack answered about the GIPSA Rule by saying, “We?ll make sure that we follow the administrative process in terms of what we propose, since we haven?t completed the work, I don?t know what the final product is going to look like, but I can assure you that we?re not going to put out something that doesn?t allow people to review it, understand it, and to give us feedback on it.?
