NY Farm Bureau Statement on USDA Aid Package to Help
Distressed Farm Families During COVID-19 Pandemic
The following may be attributed to NYFB President David
Fisher:
“New York Farm Bureau appreciates USDA’s announcement to
provide emergency economic aid to our farmers in light of the serious market
disruptions and collapsed commodity prices related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York Farm Bureau wrote a letter this month to Secretary Sonny Perdue
requesting the direct assistance and a federal food purchase program to help
stabilize prices. $16 billion will now be directed to our farm families along
with $3 billion to purchase meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables. We also
applaud the initiative to get more food from the farm to food banks to help New
Yorkers in need. No farmer wants to see
food go to waste but is sometimes left with no other choice considering the
major challenges confronting the food distribution chain.
“Like most small businesses, New York’s farm families are
trying to cope the best they can while they continue to make sure food
production doesn’t stop. The USDA announcement is an investment into food
security for this country.
“We look forward to learning more details about the aid
package and will work with the USDA and our farmers to get the assistance
quickly to where it needs to go.”
Follow this link to read the full letter and requests made
by NYFB to assist farmers across the state: https://www.nyfb.org/application/files/3315/8619/7810/NYFB_USDA_COVID_Funding_Recommendation_Letter14370.pdf.
