Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he and Montana Senator John Tester are reintroducing their cattle market competition legislation they brought up last year. He says making sure cattle producers can be assured they get at least 50 percent of their cattle purchased on the spot market is key to making better and transparent markets.
He thinks there’s a better chance to get his measure passed this time around because one opponent, former Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts is retired and also that the new Senate Ag Chair seems friendly to the legislation.
Grassley says he’s also talking with some House members who like his proposal and also with some Senate colleagues about similar measures they’re backing.
Grassley says the problem with non-competitive cattle markets came up at a majority of his town hall meetings last year which helped prompt him to offer his legislation.
