A deal was reached between the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House to provide a spending bill for fiscal year 2021 and to provide another aid package related to the ongoing pandemic. The measure contains significant funding for farmer assistance programs, nutrition and broadband through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is expected that the COVID package will deliver an additional round of direct to farmer assistance for all row crop farmers at a rate of $20 per acre.
The measure was approved by the House and Senate late Monday evening and sent to President Trump for his signature.
More below:
https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/15049-congress-white-house-reach-deal-on-covid-aid-package
Summary of USDA Farm Aid provisions affecting row crop farmers:
SEC. 751. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY.
Provides $11.1875 billion to the Office of the Secretary, to remain available until expended, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus by providing support to agricultural producers, growers, and processors. From this amount, the Secretary:
• Shall make supplemental Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments for the 2020 crop year to producers of price trigger crops who meet a defined market trigger;
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Shall make CFAP supplemental payments for the 2020 crop year to producers of flat-rate crops who meet a defined market trigger;
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Shall take crop insurance indemnities, noninsured crop disaster assistance payments, and Wildfire and Hurricanes Indemnity Program Plus payments into consideration when determining the amount of eligible sales and may allow producers to select 2018 or 2019 sales;
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Shall make payments to livestock and poultry growers for losses suffered due to depopulation because of insufficient processing access due to COVID-19 market impacts;
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Shall make supplemental CFAP payments to cattle producers;
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Shall use no more than $1 billion to make payments to livestock and poultry contract growers who had
revenue losses due to contract changes because of COVID-19;
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Shall use no less than $20 million to improve and maintain animal disease prevention and response
capacity;
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Shall make payments to domestic users of upland cotton and extra-long staple cotton;
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Shall make additional payments to supplement the CFAP payment to more closely align with the
calculated gross payment or revenue loss;
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May provide support to processors for crop losses due to insufficient processing access;
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May extend the term of a marketing assistance loan;
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Shall use no less than $1.5 billion to purchase food and agricultural products, including seafood;
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The same fund is also available to make loans and grants to small and midsized food processors or
distributors, seafood processing facilities and vessels, farmers markets, and producers to respond to
COVID-19, including measures to protect workers;
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Is to conduct a preliminary review of the COVID-19 impacts on and needs of agricultural producers and
food processors and actions needed to improve COVID-19 food purchasing;
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May use no more than $200 million to support timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses
impacted by COVID-19;
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May take into account price differentiation factors for each commodity when making payments under
this section, such as specialized varieties, local markets, and certified organic;
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May make payments to producers of advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel, cellulosic biofuel,
conventional biofuel, or renewable fuels with market losses due to COVID-19; and,
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May make recourse loans available to dairy product processors, packagers, or merchandisers.