USDA Helps Farmers

The USDA has released new details of the much anticipated Corona Virus Food Assistance Program. The $19 billion dollar aid package will help farmers and ranchers that are hurting due to the pandemic. The relief includes $16 billion in direct payments to producers, with another three billion to purchase food products. Andrew Wamsley of the American Farm Bureau says the nation's farmers and ranchers need relief “impacts to farmers and ranchers across the country. Markets drying up with restaurants closing, food service, cafeterias, schools are being shut down has had immediate impact on a wide swath of growers. Those that are selling fresh produce and specialty crops in the restaurants down to our dairy farmers, where their milk typically goes in the school. And obviously the challenges are livestock producers.” The Farm Bureau calls the aid package a good first step.