Not All Farmers Are Receiving Financial Relief
Cyndy Ash runs Jubilee Farms in Clinton, Illinois, where she raises sheep for wool. Dana Cronin/Illinois Newsroom
As congress continues to negotiate a second coronavirus stimulus bill, many farmers are still left out of the first wave of relief.
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) program implemented in April and drawing from funding in the first coronavirus stimulus bill, the CARES Act. Part of the program allocates $16 billion dollars in direct relief to eligible farmers and ranchers. But fine print and red tape have prevented some of the most vulnerable farmers — often on small farms — from seeing any of that aid.
The 21st talks to a reporter, farmer and member of farmaid to talk about the program and how some farmers are being left out.
Guests:
Dana Cronin, Agriculture reporter at WILL/Illinois Newsroom and Harvest Public Media, writer of "Help From Uncle Sam Isn’t Reaching All Farmers"
Cyndy Ash, Founder, owner and operator of Jubilee Farms in Clinton, Illinois
Alicia Harvie, Advocacy & Farmer Services Director of Farm Aid
Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi
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