IOWA’S TWO U-S SENATORS ARE QUESTIONING WHY PURE PRAIRIE POULTRY, WHICH RECENTLY DECLARED BANKRUPTCY, WAS GIVEN TENS OF MILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS.
SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY SAYS TWO YEARS AGO, THE U-S-D-A HANDED THE MINNESOTA-BASED COMPANY A NEAR-SEVEN-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT ALONG WITH GUARANTEED LOANS OF ALMOST 39-MILLION.
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POULTRY1 OC….. “THE BLUE” :11
WHEN THE COMPANY’S CHARLES CITY PLANT CLOSED THIS MONTH, IT LEFT AROUND 50 FARMERS IN IOWA, WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA WITHOUT PROCESSING CAPACITY OR FEED FOR MORE THAN TWO-MILLION CHICKENS.
ANOTHER 100 IOWANS LOST THEIR JOBS.
GRASSLEY QUESTIONS WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THE COMPANY WAS GOING TO FAIL.
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POULTRY2 OC…. “RIGHT NOW” :24
SENATOR JONI ERNST SAYS “PURE PRAIRIE POULTRY’S ABRUPT CLOSURE SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER VETTING AND OVERSIGHT AT USDA,” AND SAYS THOSE FUNDS NEED TO HELP PRODUCERS, “RATHER THAN BEING FLUSHED DOWN THE DRAIN AND HARMING RURAL COMMUNITIES.”
GRASSLEY AGREES.
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POULTRY3 OC……..”SMALL PROCESSORS” :16
GRASSLEY WAS ASKED IF HE THINKS THE OWNERS OR MANAGERS OF PURE PRAIRIE POULTRY DID SOMETHING WRONG, OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD PAY THE U-S-D-A BACK.
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POULTRY4 OC…….”PAID BACK” :19
GRASSLEY SAYS IT’S THE U-S-D-A THAT’S “RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING TABS ON THE TAXPAYER-FUNDED GRANTS IT ADMINISTERS, BUT IT CLEARLY DROPPED THE BALL WITH PURE PRAIRIE.”
HE’S ASKING THE AGENCY TO EXPLAIN TO CONGRESS AND THE PUBLIC “WHAT WENT WRONG TO HELP PREVENT A REPEAT SCENARIO.”
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