U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) recently held a phone call with Pennsylvania agriculture leaders to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry.
Casey also recently contacted Sonny Perdue, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to request the agency deliver direct assistance to specialty-crop producers and dairy farmers suffering losses from the pandemic, and that relief efforts be tailored to farmers in various local markets.
“Agriculture is the commonwealth’s top industry, and farmers and agricultural businesses are essential to our economy,” Casey said. “Farmers do incredibly hard and important work, and I know as a result of COVID-19, an already challenging job has become even more difficult. I will continue to press USDA to ensure that payments in the CARES Act provide support for farmers selling into local markets, specialty crop producers and dairy farmers, all of whom have a significant footprint in Pennsylvania.”
In Pennsylvania, the fresh produce industry has experienced $5 billion in losses, and dairy farmers have lost an estimated $5.7 billion in the past five weeks. More losses are expected.
The federal CARES Act included $9.5 billion in dedicated disaster funds for local food producers and specialty crop, dairy, and livestock farmers who previously were ineligible to receive emergency assistance.