Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is supporting the revision of GIPSA rules just sent to the Office of Management and Budget by the USDA. Grassley is joining the National Farmers Union and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, who favor the proposal. He says he’s heard from cattle producers concerned about lack of competition in the markets and is hoping this will be one step to help with that problem.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council both have concerns with the GIPSA proposal. NCBA leaders wants the draft withdrawn because they think it will limit producer marketing options and compel buyers to offer lower bids. Grassley disagrees with them.

He also doesn’t see opponents to these GIPSA rules being able to block them by trying to defund the proposal through appropriations.

NPPC which opposes the USDA draft says they mirror GIPSA rules brought forward in 2010. They say an Informa study done on the rules at that time estimated the cost at $420 million a year.