Two Senators from top farming states are on opposite sides of a livestock bill to make the cattle markets more transparent.
In May, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and other colleagues introduced legislation that would force packers to buy at least half the beef cattle they slaughter directly from producers on the open market. Grassley says that it will make it easier for farmers to track market prices and increase competition among packers.
He is accusing Kansas Senator Pat Roberts of delaying the bill. However, Sen. Roberts says some cattle producers do not think it will help, some producer groups do not want the federal government dictating free market practices and packers are against it.