August 11, 2020

28 US farm groups urge USDA to extend COVID-19 aid application

28 United States farm groups under the American Farm Bureau Federation called on the US Department of Agriculture to extend the COVID-19 aid payments application deadline, Reuters reported.

In a letter to the USDA, the American Farm Bureau Federation said the August 28 deadline could be too soon for more farmers to join the US$16 billion aid programme.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, US farmers were forced to throw out food, euthanise backlog livestock and call on the government for assistance.

The groups urged Sonny Purdue, US Agriculture Secretary to boost producer and stakeholder engagement initiatives.

As of August 3, the USDA had paid out US$6.8 billion with most of the money channeled towards corn, cattle and milk producers. However, there is low participation from fruit and vegetable producers.

On July 9, the USDA expanded the programme to include 40 specialty crops and boost eligibility for other crops such as apples, but there are still low applications from producer growers, probably as these growers aren't as experienced working with the USDA when compared to corn and livestock farmers. 

A USDA Farm Service Agency spokesman said in July that extending eligibility dates or increasing aid was pending Congress' decision. But several lawmakers said the CARES act, passed on March 27 meant that the USDA already has the authority to do so.

Debbie Stabenow, Democrat senator for Michigan said the USDA is imposing its own self-limits, adding that they are able to meet the requirements under the CARES act should they choose to do so.

-      Reuters