As part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program , the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will leave up to $ 2.1 billion in direct payments to specialty crop producers . The payments will be based on losses where prices and market supply range of mountains have been bear upon and will aid producers facing extra registration and marketing costs lead from mislay demand and short - term oversupply for the 2020 merchandising class as a result of COVID-19 .
Producers that pass into one of the following family may be eligible to pick up a direct payment :
Beginning on May 26 , 2020 , producers of all eligible commodities may apply for assistance through their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center . Specialty crops producers are encouraged to complete the software form ahead of the practical software date . producer can locate their service essence and find applications programme forms andadditional information here .
The defrayal are one of several measures USDA is taking to sustain America ’s metier crop industry which has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 interior emergency . In addition to the verbatim payment , USDA has implemented the Farmers to Families Food Box Program . More info about the food box program isavailable here .
USDA will also make an extra $ 873.3 million in Section 32 purchase of specialty crop products for statistical distribution to food banks . The use of these extra Section 32 funds will be determined by diligence requests , USDA agricultural market analysis and food money box needs . The latest leverage allurement areavailable here .
interracial industry responsesWhile this new plan offers more elbow room and supporting for farmers , many industry leaders also emphasized that it still is not enough to in full help the farmers who have suffered under the pandemic , and that more help is need .
A statement from the Produce Marketing Association reads : " PMA is pleased that the USDA is moving forrad to provide much needed resource to produce growers however , more assistance is needed to protect the supply chain and provide the support to ensure our industry can proceed to supply consumer with nutritious garden truck . We also look onwards to the next Notice of Funding Availability ( NOFA ) in CFAP that will address much needed fiscal support for floriculture/ horticulture grower . "
Tom Stenzel , President & CEO , United Fresh Produce Association respond : “ We applaud the announcement of a direct payment program for fruit and vegetable agriculturist . That being said , we understand the resource and insurance policy constraint that have been put on USDA and the Administration and will work closely with Congress on implementing a stronger and more effective program in the next round of discussion with Capitol Hill . It is of the essence that USDA and Congress focus on programs that point resource for cultivator , grower - shippers , and others in the garden truck distribution supplying string that had lineal task losses and immediate financial wallop from administration mandated closures . ”
Kam Quarles , CEO , National Potato Council , say that this plan is not enough to help the Solanum tuberosum industry : “ Given the oscilloscope of this crisis , we sleep with the initial financial backing would be deficient to meet the need of phratry farms . base upon the limited resource harbinger today under this direct payment syllabus , the potato manufacture is strongly urging Congress to act rapidly to provide more resources and flexibility to fill up this huge gap and maintain producers ’ livelihoods . ”
Dave Puglia , President & CEO , Western Growers , also emphasizes that the design is not enough to to the full help oneself the farmers who have suffered serious exit , saying : “ The Administration is doing what it can to help as many farmers as possible from a limited source of relief funds . The problematic part of this is that even with the increased hood on easement payments to item-by-item farmers , the factual loss are far greater for many . By way of representative , the average sized lettuce farm in the West is 250 acres and postulate about $ 5,000 per Akka to grow the craw . The relief payment jacket crown think of the Fannie Farmer who suffer the entire crop when the food service industriousness was fill up will have no relief for all but 50 land of that departure . ”
Mike Joyner , President , Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association , expressed his grasp of the new efforts : “ We value the administration ’s efforts to assist agriculture overcome many of the challenge we have faced during this pandemic . Florida peculiarity craw manufacturer know withering expiration from the shutdown of the foodservice supply chain and lag at retail – red far greater than the direct payment limits announced today will breed . We will go on to work with Congress and the governance to secure additional relief for firmly - hit Florida growers of clean fruits and vegetables . ”
For more information : Siobhan MayProduce Marketing AssociationEmail:[email protected]Tel : +1 ( 302 ) 781-5855www.pma.com
Mary CoppolaUnited Fresh Produce AssociationTel : +1 ( 202 ) 303 - 3425[email protected]www.unitedfresh.org
