COVID-19 Resources from USDA

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Taylor in Farming Resources, Financing, Food Safety, Funding, Policy, Publications // 2 Comments

COVID-19 Resources from USDA – Learn What the Agency is Doing During the Outbreak

USDA has just announced three ways to help farmers and ranchers during the COVID-19 crisis. Please check out these COVID-19 Resources from USDA to help you with your operations if you are in need.

FSA has made changes to farm loan, disaster, conservation and safety net programs to make it easier for customers to conduct business. This includes relaxing the farm loan-making process, servicing direct loans, and servicing guaranteed loans. Click here for more information.

RMA: The Risk Management Agency is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. These flexibilities include: enabling producers to send notifications and reports electronically, extending the date for production reports and providing additional time and deferring interest on premium and other payments.Click here for more details.

CRP: More than 3.4 million acres selected for the general signup Conservation Reserve Program. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. For more details on how to apply, click here.

USDA also has a Coronavirus page on their website at https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus that provides information about the U.S. food supply chain, animal and plant health, food safety, and links to details about other actions that the agency has taken in response to the virus. According to the agency: “There are no nationwide shortages of food, although in some cases the inventory of certain foods at your grocery store might be temporarily low before stores can restock. Food production and manufacturing are widely dispersed throughout the U.S. and there are currently no wide-spread disruptions reported in the supply chain. USDA and the Food and Drug Administration are closely monitoring the food supply chain for any shortages in collaboration with industry and our federal and state partners. We are in regular contact with food manufacturers and grocery stores.”