Lawmakers were allowed $26 billion to spend for agriculture in the new COVID bill. Half of those funds were used for nutrition programs and the other $13 billion for agriculture assistance programs. Combest, Sell and Associates managing partner Tom Sell says the bill is a combination of ag provisions in the HEROES Act and HEALS Act. “There will be payments included for hog and turkey growers, beef producers and some additional funds on the crops side.” Congress was more prescriptive in this COVID package, getting specific on how the USDA should spend the money, an effort sought by House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson. If the bill is signed into law, Sell expects much of its implementation under a Biden-administration.
