Indianola Enterprise-Tocsin
Ag Industry Could See a Boost Under Relief Bill
From Staff Reports
The agriculture industry could be getting a boost from Congress soon.
According to a release from U.S Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, there is currently a “two-pronged coronavirus relief plan for U.S agriculture, including provisions that should benefit Mississippi livestock and agricultural producers hurt by price disruptions and market loss” thanks to COVID-19.
The nation’s ag industry has hit several hurdles over the past three years, particularly when it came to the trade war with China and weather catastrophes like the South Delta backwater flood, which has kept thousands of acres underwater in that region twice in as many years.
“Agriculture and livestock producers in Mississippi and across the country share in the extraordinary hard times facing our nation today. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program resources can help support their operations and the products they produce to feed and clothe Americans,” said Hyde-Smith, who serves on Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and Senate Agriculture Committee.
The following is from the weekend release by Hyde-Smith’s office describing the bill.
Under the first component of the program, beef, pork, dairy, produce, row crop producers, and others harmed by market disruptions may apply for direct payments funded through the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and $9.5 billion in CARES Act funding. In all, $16 billion is available for the direct payments.
The second component involves the USDA using $3 billion to purchase excess inventories of meat, dairy, fresh produce, and other products for use by regional foodbanks and other nonprofit organizations.