Wisconsin Ag Groups Call on Governor to Provide Relief for State Farmers
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 -- 9:47 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -A coalition of Wisconsin agricultural organizations are calling on Gov. Tony Evers to provide up to $50 million in direct cash relief for state farmers who are suffering from financial setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.In a letter sent to the governor on Tuesday, the groups acknowledged that funding from the federal government's CARES Act, which totals $1.9 billion to help boost Wisconsin's economy, could help give producers much needed assistance in paying their bills. The memo further stated that the amount would not cover the total loss to the state's food producers, but may help sustain many farmers through the next few weeks as they reorganize their businesses and prepare for spring planting season. Dairy producers have seen a $66 million hit to their total income in just the past two months, according to the groups, with additional losses realized by farms that were asked by their processors to dump access milk. Furthermore, state pork and beef farmers each lost 25 percent of their marketshare when restaurants were ordered to close because of the stay at home order.
Growers of corn, soybeans, cranberries and potatoes have also seen the values of their commodities drop since Coronavirus began spreading throughout the United States. The letter was signed by leaders of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin Soybean Association, Wisconsin Pork Association, Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association, Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, and Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.
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