Peterson Welcomes Food and Ag Provisions of COVID Relief Compromise

On Monday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota announced the food and agriculture provisions of the latest COVID relief deal moving through the House and Senate this week.

In addition to a 15 percent increase in benefits for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for six months, Peterson pointed specifically to the inclusion of important support for those who were left out earlier assistance, including contract livestock and poultry growers, ethanol producers that saw a drop in demand, and livestock and poultry producers who had to depopulate herds and flocks as a result of supply chain disruptions. The bill also contains much-needed help for dairy farmers, funding for small

and mid-sized livestock processors to attain federal inspection in order to accommodate increased demand, as well as animal health work and grants to state departments for ongoing farm stress programs.

“The effects of this pandemic are still being seen all along the food supply chain,” Peterson said. “Folks are still struggling to get enough to eat, and farmers are still reeling from disruptions to the marketplace. This bill isn’t perfect, but it reflects a compromise and goes a long way toward getting us through this hard time and back to normal. I urge my colleagues to support it.”

A full breakdown of the food and agriculture provisions in the bill is available by clicking here.