WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — With Vice President Mike Pence in town, Sen. Chuck Grassley took a moment to speak on the side of farmers going through hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pence's final stop in Iowa on Friday was a roundtable with state agriculture leaders on "steps being taken to ensure the food supply remains secure" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event was held at the Hy-Vee corporate headquarters in West Des Moines.
"I'm pleased to report to you that, all the way through this morning and the daily reports I receive on the coronavirus task force, we've slowed the spread," Pence said. "The truth is, where the epidemic began on the west coast ... the case numbers remain low and steady."
The USDA announced Friday that 14 plants are set to reopen, with two being Tyson Foods plants in Iowa.
Pence was joined by Gov. Kim Reynolds, senators Grassley and Joni Ernst, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and various industry leaders from companies such as Tyson and American Farm Bureau.
Sen. Grassley said he's been getting calls from farmers for weeks asking why wholesale prices are skyrocketing while they continue to sell their crops at rock bottom prices.
"It's just hard for them to understand that," Grassley said. "It seems to me that there are people that ought to be not only should be sharing that distress, but they ought to be explaining how some of the anomalies can happen."
Grassley also warned that farmers need answers for both their financial and mental well-being.
"Things aren't very good out there on the farm," Grassley said.
While focusing on keeping the food supply chain active, Gov. Kim Reynolds made a public plea for more federal help for farmers.
"I want to take this opportunity, though, since I've got the Secretary of Ag here and the Vice President here, to just say we're extremely grateful for the CARES [Act] funding to support our farmers and ranchers," Reynolds said. "I want to take a look at the payment limitations and asking if those be lifted to serve all of our Iowa producers."
Grassley spoke about the calls he's received from farmers.
"Remember this all starts on the family farm and the extent ... which there are processors all over the country, that can't help us explain how come when people almost cry to us," Grassley said. "How come we're losing hundreds of dollars on our cattle when the prices for consumers is going up? It's just hard for them to understand."
Vice President Pence said he's taking what he heard back to Washington.
Earlier in the day, he visited Westkirk Presbyterian Church in Urbandale to discuss how different congregations around the state are planning to hold services moving forward.
In-person religious gatherings can be held with proper social distancing.
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