USDA Newsletter Gaffe Ignites Fury from Texas and Iowa Senators
By Jean-Paul McDonald, Farms.com
Farmers and ranchers across the United States got a mixed message from the USDA last week when an un-approved employee newsletter suggested that USDA employee’s go “Meatless” on Mondays as a way to off-set their carbon footprint.
This obviously didn’t sit well with farmers and ranchers who are struggling to maintain their herds through one of the hottest, driest years in recent history. This also didn’t sit well with Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) who have declared “Meat Monday” in protest of the “Meatless Monday” fiasco.
"In some of the toughest times they’ve seen in recent memory, Texas cattle ranchers and farmers deserve an administration who works with them," said Cronyn, "not one who undermines them with boneheaded decisions from bureaucrats in Washington". "This is a reminder to USDA that it’s supposed to advocate for American agriculture, not against it," added Grassley.
Showing their support for the livestock industry, a photo showing take-out containers from a popular barbeque chain called Hill Country was publicized after the Senator’s employees enjoyed a lunch feast that included 52 orders of BBQ beef sandwiches, brisket, ribs and sausage with all the southern trimmings of course.