07.15.20

Hoeven Discusses Ag Assistance, Gathers Input for the Next Phase of Federal COVID-19 Response

Senator Working to Ensure USDA has Funding to Mitigate Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 on Producers

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today held a virtual roundtable with North Dakota producers, commodity groups and Farm Service Agency (FSA) officials to:

  • Review the progress of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
    • The CFAP was funded in part through the $9.5 billion in emergency funding Hoeven secured in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
  • Gather input on the next phase of the federal response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.
  • Advance Hoeven’s efforts to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the funding it needs to assist producers through current challenges and ensure future assistance works for producers.
    • This builds on the $14 billion replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) that the senator also included in the CARES Act.

“The CFAP was a good step in helping producers weather the challenges of COVID-19,” said Hoeven. “However, the pandemic’s impacts will continue to be felt over the long-term. Ensuring our producers can maintain their operations through these difficulties remains a top priority, and these discussions are an important part of shaping the next phase of the legislative response and making sure the administration provides assistance that works for farm country.”

Today’s video conference comes as part of a series of meetings Hoeven has held to help ensure North Dakotans are best able to access assistance and to facilitate feedback from local stakeholders to the administration. This includes multiple discussions with producers prior to the implementation of CFAP and following the release of the program’s final rules. The FSA will continue accepting applications for the program through August 28, 2020. 

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