Tallahassee, FL — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $6 billion in expanded pandemic assistance to farmers, including specialty crop and seasonal produce growers, and others who did not sufficiently benefit from last year’s USDA assistance. As part of the $6 billion, USDA also pledged timber harvesting and dairy assistance, and PPE and protective measures for farmworkers and food and seafood workers. Beginning April 5, USDA will also reopen last year’s CFAP 2 pandemic assistance for an additional 60 days, with improved outreach to underserved agricultural producers. See below for the full USDA release.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services works to support Florida’s $147 billion agriculture industry, including seasonal produce growers who faced $522 million in pandemic-related losses, and oversees plant and animal disease detection and prevention in Florida. Of the additional USDA funding, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement:
“Florida’s proud farmers, ranchers, and growers have had a tough year, working to overcome half a billion dollars in pandemic-related losses while keeping their workers safe and producing the domestic food supply on which 150 million American families rely. With USDA support last year slow in coming and inconsistent across agricultural sectors, Florida agriculture deeply appreciates this expanded, inclusive approach to federal support. Our seasonal produce growers have been particularly hard-hit by COVID-19 and will benefit from additional specialty crop grant funding, PPE will help keep our farmworkers safe in fields and packing houses, and financial support for new, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers will make our entire $147 billion agriculture industry stronger. I thank Secretary Vilsack for putting our farmers first with this USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and look forward to seeing these resources put to work for Florida producers.”
This funding includes an additional:
- $100 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
- $100 million for local and regional agricultural marketing and expansion of direct-to-consumer agriculture
- $75 million to support new/beginning, socially disadvantaged, and military veteran farmers and ranchers
- $75 million for efforts to increase fresh fruit and vegetables purchases by low-income consumers
- $28 million to state departments of agriculture for farm stress/mental health assistance
- $20 million for improving animal disease prevention and response
