Ahead of the Minnesota primary elections, U.S. Congressional candidates from the seventh district talked rural issues on a virtual panel at Farmfest. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association President Mike Landuyt asked candidates what’s needed in the next round of COVID-19 relief for agriculture. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said there’s no question livestock took a hard hit. “In the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, there were payments made to cattlemen, but the way USDA did that wasn’t fair. Some farmers got $30 per head and others got $100 per head,” said Peterson. “The USDA hasn’t spent all of the CFAP money yet and we’re trying to get them to change the formula to treat people fairly. The HEROES Act also includes payment provisions that won’t be the way it’s done in CFAP.” Candidate Michelle Fischbach said it’s important to develop contingency plans and “make sure we’re less dependent on a small number of processing plants.”
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