Payments To Specialty Crop Growers A Good Start, Duvall Notes

USDA will soon begin rolling out up to $1 billion to help specialty crop farmers.  American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said these payments are a good start.

"We’re starting to learn more about the new program to spend up to a billion dollars for specialty crop growers who have suffered losses in this tough economy" Duvall said.  "Farm Bureau has long advocated for more assistance for specialty crop growers, who have traditionally been locked out of major safety net programs.  Farmers raising fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts have higher expenses because of the intensive nature of their operations, including a reliance on manual labor. They’re also vulnerable to lower-priced imports and trade disruptions.”

Duvall said the AFBF is anxiously awaiting additional details.  He added the American farmer needs USDA to distribute money soon.

“Hopefully, specialty crop growers can withstand this economic crisis, if our policymakers will act swiftly to provide aid, as well as pursue passage of a new Farm Bill,” Duvall said.

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