Bill would provide relief to feed sellers, livestock producers

A proposed bill in the state House would provide emergency relief for feed sellers and livestock producers struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill would establish a special fund under the state’s Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account to provide grants to feed sellers and livestock producers. The fund would ensure that those who breed, raise, and feed livestock would receive a portion of the $9.5 billion provided under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

The act will allocate approximately $23 billion to the agriculture industry. A total of $9.5 billion will be available for those who produce and supply food to local farmers’ markets, schools and restaurants, and to producers of dairy, livestock, specialty crops.

“Livestock producers spend countless hours breeding, raising and feeding animals to ensure that food products so many of us take for granted are available each day,” State Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery), who proposed the bill, said. “Many of these producers, along with those who supply them with feed for their livestock, are faced with a financial dilemma because, while their income may have slowed down or been cut off altogether during these difficult times, their operational costs have remained the same.”