|
The Iowa Pork Producers Association
continues to work to find solutions for hog farmers who are suffering
through a serious economic downturn brought on by high feed costs
and reduced market prices.
IPPA staff and the Executive
Committee of the Board of Directors met with Iowa Sen. Charles
Grassley and his staff yesterday by conference call to discuss
the current situation in the Iowa pork industry.
Grassley commented that his office
has received several phone calls from concerned hog farmers.
Two Executive Committee members
provided examples of the financial difficulties facing Iowa's
pork producers. Grassley also was reminded that the current struggles
are input cost issues and not market problems.
IPPA asked the senator to consider
several options for helping pork producers. These included additional
federal government purchases of pork, especially sow products;
emergency feed assistance and/or loans; and release of non-sensitive
CRP acres for feed grain production.
Grassley also was invited to
the World Pork Expo in June to further discuss the issue.
IPPA is working to arrange similar
meetings with Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin and members of Iowa's congressional
delegation.
|