Trump to offer $19 billion relief for farmers in the United States
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will be aiding the farmers in the United States by giving them a $19 billion economic rescue package.
The agricultural sector has been working non-stop since the quarantine period started during the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. During Friday’s daily briefing president Trump announced that the farmers will receive help from the U.S. government.
The president confirmed that a $19 billion economic rescue package will be given to farmers and ranchers and this will include sending out cash payments as well as buying farm products and redistributing them to food banks.
The support that president Trump is giving to the agricultural sector during this outbreak could be crucial for his re-election in November in key states like Wisconsin and Michigan. “The program will include direct payments to farmers as well as mass purchases of dairy, meat and agricultural produce, to get that food to the people in need,” Trump said during a White House press briefing.
According to the Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue the direct aid to the agricultural sector will total $16 billion, while the department will buy $3 billion in surplus food to give to food banks and other organizations.
Farmers and ranchers where dumping milk
The new program comes after numerous reports that farmers are dumping milk, abandoning vegetables ready for harvest, and otherwise taking massive losses as they try to stay afloat amid the massive recession.
“Having to dump milk, or plow under vegetables ready for market is not only financially distressing, but it’s heartbreaking as well to those who produce them,” Perdue said at the press conference. “This program will not only provide direct financial relief to our farmers and ranchers, Mr. President, but will allow for the purchase and distribution of our agricultural abundance in this country to help our fellow Americans in need.”
The payments will be limited to $125,000 per commodity and $250,000 per the individual or entity who’s benefiting, to limit funds for massive agribusinesses. They will be calculated as the combination of 85 percent of price losses from January 1 to April 15, 2020, and 30 percent of expected losses for the next two quarters after April 15.