Trump Announces Rules for $19 Billion In Pandemic Relief to Farmers

Speaking at a podium flanked by tables stacked with fruits and vegetables in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Trump shared details of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which includes $16 billion in aid directly to farmers and ranchers, and another $3 billion to buy food and distribute it to needy families under the Farmers to Families Food Box program. Farmers who suffered a 5 percent or greater price loss can apply for direct payments of as much as $250,000 per person, the USDA said in a statement, adding that it would begin taking applications for the program on May 26. The $16 billion in direct payments to farmers and ranchers will include $9.6 billion for the livestock industry—with $5.1 billion for cattle, $2.9 billion for dairy, and $1.6 billion for hogs, according to a statement released May 8 by U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee. In addition, $3.9 billion will be paid to row crop producers, $2.1 billion for specialty crop farmers, and $500 million for other crops, according to the statement. The payments are capped at $250,000 per individual farmer or entity...MORE