NMPF hopes for more dairy purchases after $120m announcement

By Jim Cornall

- Last updated on GMT

New Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications are also being accepted.  Pic: Getty Images/Matt Anderson
New Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications are also being accepted. Pic: Getty Images/Matt Anderson

Related tags Usda coronavirus COVID-19 Milk

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said it appreciates Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for including $120m of cheese and butter among $470m in Section 32 food purchases announced yesterday.

The purchases are scheduled to occur in the next two months and are in addition to purchases previously announced in the CARES Act funding.  Dairy received the most amount of funding, with turkey and potato products next with $50m each.

“These Section 32 purchases will help both Americans who need high-quality nutritious food as well as U.S. dairy farmers who are experiencing unprecedented losses from the COVID-19 national emergency,”​ said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, the largest US dairy-farmer organization. 

“The purchases will provide important and needed support to the dairy supply chain. We look forward to learning more details and to continue working with USDA on possible additional purchases.”

Secretary Perdue said, “President Trump has authorized USDA to support our farmers affected by this national emergency and this action to purchase food and deliver to those in need further demonstrates his unwavering support for the American people during these unprecedented times.

“America’s farmers and ranchers have experienced a dislocated supply chain caused by the Coronavirus. USDA is in the unique position to purchase these foods and deliver them to the hungry Americans who need it most.”

Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications open for producers

In other news, the U.S. Small Business Administration began accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications​ yesterday on a limited basis only, to provide relief to dairy farms and other US agricultural businesses.

The Small Business Administration is encouraging all eligible agricultural businesses with 500 or fewer employees wishing to apply to begin preparing their business financial information needed for their application.

During this application window, only agricultural business applications will be accepted due to limitations in funding availability and the unprecedented submission of applications already received.

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