Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Friday announced a new $19 billion aid program for farmers to help them cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
“Having to dump milk or plow under vegetables ready to market is not only financially distressing, but it’s heartbreaking as well to those who produce them,” said Perdue.
“Our farmers have been in the fields, planting and doing what they do every spring to feed the American people, even with the pandemic as we speak,” he added.
The program will include $16 billion in direct payments to farmers as well as $3 billion for large government purchases of dairy, meat, and agricultural produce to get food to people in need.
“Department of Agriculture will be implementing a $19 billion relief program for our great farmers and ranchers as they cope with the fallout of the global pandemic,” President Trump said on Friday when announcing the program.
