NELA Farmer Reacts: USDA Announces $19 Billion Relief Program for Farmers, Ranchers
By Tyler Wann
KNOE-TV 8
The LSU Ag Center County Agent for Richland, Ouachita, and Franklin parishes, Keith Collins, said many farmers have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said commodity prices are low, and many farmers aren't making their money back.
The program also includes $3 billion in purchases of products such as meat and dairy. USDA will then partner with food distributors to provide these items to food banks and other community and faith-based organizations.
"We certainly do appreciate, you know, thinking about agriculture and trying to help agriculture, but I do believe it's going to take more money than that to really help all aspects of agriculture," said Butch Oaks, the Ouachita Parish Farm Bureau President.