WASHINGTON -- New York's farmers are among the countless groups dealing with tough realities in this new pandemic-shaped world. They and farmers around the country are looking to Washington for help and while some assistance is coming, Agricultural advocacy groups say more help will be needed.
“Basically it’s the disruption in the market is what we’re dealing with,” said David Fisher, a dairy farmer and President of the New York Farm Bureau. “We deal with the weather and the variables of that every year but this has just put another twist in it that we didn’t expect and we didn’t want, and we don’t need.”
Farming, especially dairy farming, and other agriculture is a significant part of New York’s economy. However, with schools, restaurants, and other bulk buying entities disrupted, farmers are taking a one-two punch as the virus limits their labor force, and many of their goods can’t be sold.
“Over 50% of food is consumed outside of the home so that really says how big that restaurant and service industry plays in agriculture,” said Lauren Williams, a spokeswoman with the New York Farm Bureau.
“Packagers and producers don’t have PPE so we’ve heard all these stories about packagers and producers having COVID and having to shut down,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). “They need relief and they need support.”
A Bi-Partisan group of lawmakers are pushing for continued funding for assistance like low interest loans, dairy distribution, supply chain stability, food bank access, labor, and expanding rural broadband.
“Washington spends lots of time bailing out industries that, frankly, don’t need it,” said Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY). “Right now our famers need help, especially our small and medium sized farmers and our dairy farmers.”
“Trying to get that demand back online is something that we’re all working towards and that’s why I’m glad to see the state start re-opening and agricultural pursuits are included in that re-opening,” said Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY).
The President and USDA recently released $16 billion that was allocated for farmers as part of the original Congressionally approved CARE Act. Fisher says while that money will help, more help is needed until this virus is brought under control.
“I’m optimistic that there’s plenty of raw product and that there will be,” said Fisher. “It’s just a matter of how we re-adjust and get it through the food system and as I said earlier, we have a super-efficient, safe food supply, all the way from the farm to the consumer, but we’ve learned that it’s a little more fragile than we thought it was.”
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May 23, 2020 at 06:41AM
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What Do Farmers Need From Congress to Survive? - Spectrum News
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