Fw: Lincoln: USDA to Purchase $30 Million of Poultry Products,Providing a Boost to Arkansas's Economy

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From: "Becker, Ben (Agriculture)" <Ben_Becker@agriculture.senate.gov>

Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 15:55:05 -0500

Subject: Lincoln: USDA to Purchase $30 Million of Poultry Products, Providing a Boost to Arkansas's Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2010

Contact: Courtney Rowe, Ben Becker (202) 224-9315

 

Lincoln: USDA to Purchase $30 Million of Poultry Products, Providing a Boost to Arkansas's Economy

 

Washington - U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to purchase up to $30 million of poultry products, providing a boost to Arkansas's poultry industry and economy. The announcement came in response to a letter Lincoln sent to Secretary Tom Vilsack last week urging USDA to purchase 60 million pounds of poultry through its Agricultural Marketing Service. Vilsack today announced the USDA will purchase up to $30 million of chicken dark meat items for federal food nutrition assistance programs.

 

"I am pleased with this rapid response to my request that will provide a much-needed boost to Arkansas's poultry industry," Lincoln said. "Arkansas's poultry producers are struggling due to a sluggish economy and the closure of several important foreign markets. The purchase will help Arkansas's poultry industry get back on its feet, protect thousands of jobs and improve the state's economy."

 

The poultry industry represents one out of every six jobs in Arkansas. The purchase will provide more stability for the poultry industry in Arkansas and will provide healthy, low fat sources of protein for USDA feeding programs, which include child nutrition programs and programs that provide food to victims of natural disasters.

 

"We appreciate Chairman Blanche Lincoln's leadership in working with the industry to respond to the current backlog," National Chicken Council President George Watts said. "With the closing of several critical foreign markets to U.S. poultry, exports have declined and inventories have increased.  This decision by Secretary Vilsack to honor Senator Lincoln's request will go a long way toward getting a quality product into the hands of individuals that need it, and will assist the nation's poultry growers, integrators, and everyone who relies on a successful poultry industry."

 

The full text of the original letter, sent last week, is below.

 

 

September 3, 2010

 

The Honorable Thomas Vilsack

Secretary of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave, SW

Room 200-A

James E. Whitten Building

Washington, DC 20250

 

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

 

Our nation's poultry farmers are suffering through an unprecedented financial crisis, and are in desperate need of assistance.  Farms, jobs, and a valued way of American life are in jeopardy because of an oversaturated poultry market.  This is due in part to countries around the world cutting off access to their domestic markets, such as Russia our largest export destination for poultry.  Accordingly, I am writing on behalf our nation's poultry farmers to formally ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to make a bonus purchase of approximately 60 million pounds of poultry.

 

In Arkansas, where poultry production represents one in every six jobs, this purchase is critical to reinvigorating our rural economies and puts people back to work.  However, the continued sluggish pace of the economy coupled with the existing export situation threatens the poultry industry's recovery.  USDA has the authority to make a bonus purchase to help stabilize a commodity sector that is suffering undue economic hardship.  A 60 million-pound purchase would go a long way in Arkansas and around the country in stabilizing the poultry industry.            

 

This purchase will benefit our public as well, by supplying a healthy, low fat source of protein for the USDA feeding programs.  A bonus purchase of this product would be helpful as USDA strives to meet some of the childhood nutrition goals outlined by the department. 

 

Thank you for your consideration of this request.  We look forward to working with you and your staff to facilitate this purchase.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Senator Blanche Lincoln