Government to Increase Meat Purchases to Help Farmers Affected by Drought [edited]

August 15, 2012 — 

President Barack Obama has announced $170 million in government meat purchases and is urging Congress to pass an agriculture bill that provides aid for farmers struck by drought. The proposed purchases, including as much as $100 million of pork, $50 million of chicken, and $10 million each of lamb and catfish, come on top of $30 million in assistance announced previously.

Obama is also directing the Defense Department to speed up purchases and freeze the meat for later use, the White House said in a statement. The goal is to help farmers with sales as they are dealing with the effects of the drought and the government will get a better price on products than if they were bought later.

By Alan Bjerga and Margaret Talev
Businessweek
August 13, 2012
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