Latest News From COVID Relief

“We don’t need to rewrite the entire farm bill,” Rep. Thompson (R-Pa.) says. “We’re comfortable with many parts of the 2018 bill and there aren’t many tweaks, instead things we need to protect and invest in."

A Senate Ag Committee hearing Thursday on the new farm bill raised a issue that is now evident: the Title 1 farm bill safety net can no longer deal with the current ag environment.

The additional payments will be equal to 15% of the producer’s previous CFAP 2 payments.

Farm Bureau hosted Secretary Vilsack at its annual convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he announced the details of ERP Phase 2 and PARP, U.S.-made fertilizer and new meat and poultry processing facility plans.

ERP Phase Two is likely to be announced by USDA in coming weeks, according to Jim Wiesemeyer. In a farm bill year, he says there might be more opportunities to capture additional profit.

The House on Friday averted a government shutdown by voting 225 to 201 in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023—the omnibus spending bill. Here's what's in it for ag.

Text of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package was released early Tuesday morning. The Senate will vote first and intends to pass the measure before Thursday, leaving the House no time to demand changes.

Phase 2 is targeted to those who suffered losses in 2020 and 2021 but may not have received any payments under Phase 1. With Phase 2 underway, USDA said that the signup deadline for Phase 1 ERP will now be Dec. 16.

USDA says the organizations were selected for their proven track records working with farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and grocery workers. The funds amount to $600 per person and will be dispersed in the fall.

Transforming the U.S. food system by improving supply chains and addressing issues exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic was detailed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack during a speech at Georgetown University.

The House and Senate are on recess this week, but work is ramping back up to finalize 2021 legislation before the New Year begins.

AgriTalk Host Chip Flory and Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer discuss plans Congress will probably have these last weeks of 2021, including the debt ceiling and the Build Back Better plan in the Senate.

USDA is continuing its rollout of aid to segments of the agriculture industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller has filed a personal lawsuit against the federal government claiming COVID relief plan discriminates against some white farmers and ranchers.

The latest COVID-19 relief bill includes additional purchases of dairy. News sent futures price soaring Tuesday. One dairy analyst says dairy farmers may now be looking at the best prices they’ve seen since 2014.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides that eligible employees are entitled to paid sick time because of COVID-19, and employers are eligible for a tax credit to offset the expense.

In an unprecedented move, USDA announced on Monday that it will extend the free summer meal program through as late as Dec. 31, 2020. Here's why.

The USDA on Tuesday announced they’ve extended the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Aid Program to September 11.

Clinton Griffiths talks with famous country music artist Justin Moore. “I see these kids and what 4-H means to them and beyond that,” says Moore.

In the long run, what opportunities could farmers harvest? Consider these emerging trends.

Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) said he will not support an extreme climate agenda that fails to consider that rural Americans will have to shoulder the burden of it.

As of last week, USDA paid out just over $6 billion of the $16 billion in CFAP payments. One agricultural economist says without the full $16 billion, lower CFAP payments could change net farm income projections.

USDA’s undersecretary for farm production and conservation, farmers can expect to receive the remaining 20% by the end of August. 

The novel COVID-19 virus has changed the world in just six months: masks are a norm, large field days are unheard of and nearly everyone has dealt with changes to their routines in some way.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week published a checklist for agricultural employers to use to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued another $228 million in Coronavirus Financial Assistance Program (CFAP) payments over the past week.

A forgiven PPP loan is tax-free to the farmer, but you will be required to reduce your expenses by the amount of forgiveness.

USDA last week noted 7,700 dairy producers have applied for and have received $337 million in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments. 

CFAP payment distribution appears to be slower than Perdue signaled.

Check out this helpful chart from USDA.

President Donald Trump and USDA released the long-awaited rules for direct payments under the Coronavirus Food Aid Program (CFAP) at the White House Tuesday.

Look for new, higher payment caps when the Coronavirus Food Aid Program rules are announced.