COVID Relief
USDA says the organizations were selected for their proven track records working with farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and grocery workers. The funds amount to $600 per person and will be dispersed in the fall.
Lawmakers had all year to work out a budget/funding level for fiscal year (FY) 2023, which starts Oct. 1. Of course, they didn’t make it and now, again, there’s a need for a stopgap spending bill.
Transforming the U.S. food system by improving supply chains and addressing issues exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic was detailed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack during a speech at Georgetown University.
The House and Senate are on recess this week, but work is ramping back up to finalize 2021 legislation before the New Year begins.
AgriTalk Host Chip Flory and Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer discuss plans Congress will probably have these last weeks of 2021, including the debt ceiling and the Build Back Better plan in the Senate.
The future of USDA’s CFAP is unclear with biofuels groups and pork producers are questioning when and if they’ll get paid. As USDA continues to divvy out relief funds for agriculture, reports show funds are running low.
USDA announced updates to CFAP 2, with the biggest revisions occurring for contract producers of livestock and specialty crops. The deadline is now October 12 to sign up or make modifications to existing applications.
More than $1 billion in payments will be released over the next several weeks for producers with approved applications for the QLA Program and for producers who have already received payments through WHIP+.
USDA is continuing its rollout of aid to segments of the agriculture industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller has filed a personal lawsuit against the federal government claiming COVID relief plan discriminates against some white farmers and ranchers.