Stay Informed

A Message from President Kron

It’s been talked about for weeks, but now the $2 trillion CARES Act – Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act - is law.  The bill was passed by the U.S. Senate Wednesday evening and it passed the House of Representatives a short time ago.

While there are many benefits for individuals and businesses, including $1,200 payments for many Americans, $367 billion in loan and grant programs for small businesses and $500 billion for industry, cities and states, there also is funding set aside for agriculture and rural communities.

Most important is the $14 billion to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation. The CCC was established nearly 100 years ago during the Great Depression.  This additional funding clears the way for a possible third round of marketing facilitation program payments in 2020. That’s good news. In addition, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has been allocated $9.5 billion to use for livestock producers, as well as fruit, vegetable and specialty crops producers who sell wholesale or through farmers markets and have seen that distribution channel disappear during this pandemic.

There also is additional funding for SNAP.  That program has seen a surge in enrollment as unemployment here in Indiana and nationwide has skyrocketed.  The stimulus package also sets aside $450 billion for commodity assistance to food banks who have been hard hit as a result of the downturn in the economy.

This worldwide pandemic has impacted folks around the globe and Hoosier farmers are no exception.  This stimulus package certainly won’t solve all of the problems facing agriculture right now, but it is a relief to know that some help is on the way. 

Sincerely, 

Randy Kron

President, Indiana Farm Bureau