Senator Gillibrand Introduces COVID Small Farm Relief Act

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillbrand (D-NY) is announcing the Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act to provide economic relief to help alleviate debt, keep farms open and fortify the national food supply.

The Democrat says the “CARES” act didn’t go far enough to sustain small farms, many of which are seeing demand for their crops and products plummet as restaurants and schools are closed and residents limit trips to the store.  

Gillbrand says New York dairy farmers have been forced to dump between 25 million and 35 million pounds of milk while produce growers worry about entire harvests being wasted if they lack access to labor.

The new initiative would forgive three types of USDA loans up to $250,000 in a one-time deal.  Small farms with an average adjusted gross income of up to $300,000 for the previous 5 years would be eligible.

A news release from the Senator did not detail where the initiative is in the political process, when it might be implemented or how farmers could apply.