Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says putting together the COVID-19 relief initiative wasn’t easy. “It took us a bit of time to get our arms around the need, how much resources are available and try to put together a comprehensive plan,” says Vilsack. “We are using resources from previous COVID packages and more traditional USDA programs.” In addition to the direct payments to row crop farmers and livestock producers, the USDA wants to help areas of the supply chain in need including specialty crop growers, livestock producers who euthanized animals and the biofuels industry. Not many details are known at this time on how this portion will be distributed. A rulemaking process is required. “We’ll get additional input from all factors involved in this $6 billion. We may also supplement with money with other programs.”
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