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Grassley reintroduces bill to ban packer ownership

Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley has once again introduced legislation to ban packer ownership of livestock.

Grassley has made similar attempts in the past, but to no avail. In the meantime, he says, livestock markets continue to become less competitive.

“Anyway you look at it, whether it’s by contact or whether it’s by the packer ownership of livestock, it gives the people that are independent producers—and not connected—it gives them less of an opportunity to make a profit,” Grassley says.

Grassley says concentration in the livestock industry is increasing and, in his words, “it’s time to see if ending packer ownership of livestock will reverse that trend”.

AUDIO: Grassley comments during a conference call with ag reporters