CFAP Reaction-Newhouse Pt 2
I’m Bob Larson. The USDA is working with ag groups to try and figure out how to disperse $16-billion in funding from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to help the recovery efforts of farmers and ranchers struggling with the pandemic.U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says there are still some unknowns with northwest specialty crop growers …
NEWHOUSE … “There’s a lot of things that, here in particular in the state of Washington, that we haven’t even begun harvesting many of our products yet. And so it’s a little difficult to qualify for this first round of assistance when we haven’t even harvested our crops yet, so there’s some money held back to try and address that.”
So, at this point, Newhouse says nothing is certain …
NEWHOUSE … “I can’t make promises about what’s going to happen in the future with further appropriations, but I do know that that’s something a lot of people, including myself, are paying attention to. If we need to fill this bucket up again with assistance for American agriculture, we’ll have to step up to meet those needs.”
The program, Newhouse says is good for some, but not all …
NEWHOUSE … “So, each of the individual commodities will have to make the case if they were left out as to why they should be included.”
Newhouse says some Washington growers still have a case to make as to why they should be included.
Tune in tomorrow for more on CFAP.