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USDA announces pandemic assistance for producers

Photo taken from Delaware Dept. of Ag
The USDA has new programs to offer additional financial assistance to farmers and producers who have experienced hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.

The USDA has announced pandemic assistance for producers.

Farmers and producers in Delaware who have felt the impact of coronavirus market disruptions are now eligible to get financial help through the United States Department of Agriculture.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) administrator Zach Ducheneaux says some producers struggled more than others because of gaps in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) rolled out last year.

 

"One of the reasons that the Biden Administration paused that, was so that we could take a look at those gaps and try to figure out how to build a better availability for a broader, more diverse set of producers,” said Ducheneaux.  

 

Ducheneaux explains what groups were hit the hardest.

 

“Socially disadvantaged producers that have typically been left behind in farm programs were especially hit hard," said Ducheneaux. "That’s our friends in the Black community, American Indian, Alaska native, Hispanic ethnicity, Asians, Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and women.” 

According to the most recent statistics from the Delaware Department of Agriculture, there are 1,352 women farmers in the First State and 96 minority farmers; those stats are from the 20-17 Ag Census.

 

Delaware has a total of 3,907 producers.

 

Ducheneaux says the USDA is dedicating a total of $6 billion towards the new Pandemic Assistance for Producers.

Ducheneaux says it started this week with the re-opening of sign-up for CFAP 2 (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program) for at least the next 60 days.

Farmers planting alfalfa, corn, sorghum and soybeans - just to name a few - are eligible for assistance.

To get more information and sign up, click here. You can also get more informatio on the USDA's website.

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.