Washington, DC, April 17, 2020 – This comment was issued on Friday, April 17, 2020 in response to the late evening initial announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on its plans for disbursing direct aid for agricultural producers from the CARES Act.

Comments should be attributed to Eric Deeble, Policy Director:

“The Secretary’s plan for direct farm aid as outlined tonight lacks critical details to confirm whether it will actually reach all who need it. Nothing in the plan indicates USDA plans to follow the will of Congress as it directed him to support farmers ‘including producers of specialty crops, producers that supply local food systems, including farmers markets, restaurants, and schools, and livestock producers, including dairy producers’ – four distinct groups of producers with very different markets and losses.”

“While every farmer harmed by the pandemic is deserving of assistance, there can be no justification for providing so little for the farmers that provide our families real food grown for them in their own communities, while simultaneously doubling payment limits for commodity growers and excluding safeguards that would prevent payments to millionaires.”

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. NSAC has released a statement on COVID-19, highlighting the impacts of the pandemic on the food and farm system, offering policy recommendations, and sharing resources for producers and organizations.