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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. 

The novel coronavirus is living up to its name, ushering in a new way of life for America’s food companies, most notably the meat industry.

Expectations for U.S. beef exports to China this year are being tempered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but shipments have already begun and they’re expected to continue strong despite the spread of the virus.

The Senate OKs a bipartisan agreement to infuse the highly popular Paycheck Protection Program with an additional $320 billion while also making farms eligible for a separate disaster loan program for small businesses. 

President Donald Trump assured farmers on Tuesday that the H-2A visa program would not be affected by a temporary immigration ban related to the COVID-19 crisis.

Senate Democrats are demanding answers from the Trump administration on what it is doing to control COVID-19 outbreaks that are shutting down meatpacking plants and threatening other parts of the food supply chain.

Friday’s announcement of $19 billion in coronavirus-related direct payments and commodity purchases was welcome news in farm country, which is reporting a growing level of stress about the pandemic.

We now know the details on what is likely to be just round one of a massive relief package for farmers this year. The package outlined Friday night includes $16 billion in direct payments to livestock producers, fruit and vegetable growers and other sectors, plus $3 billion in commodity purchases.

The Department of Agriculture has announced a $19 billion program that combines direct payments to producers and $3 billion in commodity purchases for distribution through food banks and faith-based organizations.

The expanding shutdowns - and slowdowns - of U.S. meatpacking plants is raising concerns in the nation’s capital and putting a new focus on the need for curbing the COVID-19 outbreaks that are forcing plants to suspend or at least reduce operations.