KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The United States Department of Agriculture announced a $19 billion program Friday to help farmers and consumers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide $16 billion in direct aid to agricultural producers to make up for lost demand due to COVID-19.
Additionally, the USDA pledges to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat, which it will work with distributors and wholesalers to provide to food banks and other agencies serving Americans in need.
Roughly $1.4 billion is also available to the USDA from other federal funding sources to assist food purchases for food banks.
Farmers who experienced a crop loss will need to fill out paperwork detailing those lossesand payments are expected to be sent by the end of May, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Friday on a conference call with reporters.
