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Peanut & Agribusiness COVID-19 Relief Act Update

Dan Georgia, Industry News Release, Peanuts

georgia peanut

(GPC) — The Georgia Peanut Commission hosted a webinar discussion with U.S. Congressmen Sanford Bishop and Austin Scott. The congressmen discussed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

CARES Act – Key Ag Provisions

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives moved quickly on the third relief legislation, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The Senate passed the bill 96-0 and the House passed the legislation by a voice vote. President Trump signed the bill the same day as House passage.

Important for growers are provisions for Commodity Credit Corporation funding and additional nutrition assistance. Specifically, the agricultural provisions included:

  • $14 billion for the Farm Bill’s Farm Safety Net through the Commodity Credit Corporation
  • $9.5 billion disaster assistance for specialty crop, beef and dairy farmers
  • $10 million for Farm and Agribusiness small business interruption loans
  • $3 million to increase capacity at the USDA Farm Service Agency
  • $100 million for rural high speed internet expansion
  • $15.8 billion to fund new food assistance included in the CARES Act
  • $9 billion to fund child nutrition
  • $450 in additional resources for food banks
  • $100 million for food distribution in Tribal communities

Source: Georgia Peanut Commission