Articles Tagged with ''chicken''

House Democrats released a massive new coronavirus relief bill that would provide $16.5 billion in additional direct payments to farmers and authorize USDA to compensate producers who have to dispose of livestock and poultry that can’t be sold because of processing disruptions.

The Agriculture Department awarded more than $1.2 billion in contracts to distributors to deliver fresh produce, milk, dairy products and pork and chicken directly to needy Americans.

Stung by scenes of farmers dumping milk and plowing under crops, the Trump administration is launching a never-before-tried plan to use the nation’s commercial food distributors to buy fresh produce, dairy products and meat and give them away to needy families across the country.

The USDA announced Monday that it will be spending an additional $470 million this year to purchase a wide variety of ag products, sparking cheers from farm groups and lawmakers.

A major meatpacking giant posted lower-than-expected earnings Monday and said it is unsure how long the uncertain market brought about by the coronavirus will linger in its bottom line.

COVID-19 forced most people to start eating most meals at home and away from restaurants and food service institutions. Now, food companies of all sizes are trying to adapt to selling food in new ways.

USDA’s $19 billion COVID-19 aid package for farmers may fall well short of compensating producers for the estimated damage of the pandemic, and the department has an ambitious and novel plan to distribute USDA-purchased commodities to needy people. 

Shutting down, slowing processing line speeds, and reducing work hours is becoming a reality for livestock processors as more workers contract COVID-19, and ag economists argue timing of closures in the coming weeks is everything.

Without government relief, some analysts are sharply lowering their estimates of net farm income because of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on agricultural markets, with the livestock sector and corn growers bearing much of the hit.

The USA Poultry and Egg Export Council is confirming that China and the U.S. have signed off on an agreement that the Chinese government will not over-react to outbreaks of avian influenza in the U.S.