Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced implementation of additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, including support to timber harvesters, biofuels producers, dairy farmers and processors, livestock farmers and contract growers of poultry, assistance for organic cost share, and grants for PPE.

“USDA is honoring its commitment to get financial assistance to producers and critical agricultural businesses, especially those left out or underserved by previous COVID aid,” said Secretary Vilsack. “These investments through USDA Pandemic Assistance will help our food, agriculture and forestry sectors get back on track and plan for the future. Since January, USDA has provided more than $11 billion of assistance directly to producers and food and agriculture business.”

In March, USDA announced $6 billion to support a number of new programs or to modify existing efforts. The programs announced today include:
$200 million: Small, family-owned timber harvesting and hauling businesses
$700 million: Biofuels producers
$400 million: New Dairy Donation Program to address food insecurity and mitigate food waste and loss
$580 million: Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage for small and medium farms
Assistance for poultry and livestock producers forced to euthanize animals during the pandemic
$700 million: Pandemic Response and Safety Grants for PPE and other protective measures to help specialty crop growers, meat packers and processors, seafood industry workers, among others
Up to $20 million: Additional organic cost share assistance, including for producers who are transitioning to organic