Specialty Crop Assistance Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Some specialty crop growers have already received their share of the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program payments that began on July 1.
National Potato Council CEO, Kam Quarles says the timing couldn’t have been better ...
QUARLES-10 = 12 … “These funds are incredibly important. They’re showing up at the right time. But when you compare it to the overall size of the risk that these farmers have in the marketplace, it is still comparatively small.”
It won’t fix everything, Quarles say, but it will help …
QUARLES-11 = 12 … “It’s a very responsible thing for the federal government to be engaging in this. They’re not propping up these farms in totality. They’re providing them with a band aid, but it’s a very necessary band aid.”
Which is being applied by the USDA …
QUARLES-12 = 11 … “All of this is being administered through the USDA’s Farm Services Agency and applying at your local FSA office is the way to get started.”
And after the July 1st kickoff, Quarles says things happened quickly …
QUARLES-15 = 13 … “We heard the turnaround in as little as 48-hours of working days which is light-speed for a federal government operation. So, credit to Secretary Rollins and all of the folks at USDA.”
The MASC program helps specialty crop growers address rising input costs and expand in domestic markets.
