DES MOINES, Iowa -- Farmers in the U.S. are getting $19 billion in federal COVID-19 coronavirus aid.
Iowa's Agriculture Secretary says the aid, announced by the White House on Tuesday, is coming in two parts.
"Sixteen billion dollars in direct payments to producers, and really, producers all across the landscape. Also, $3 billion in food purchases--the USDA will buy surplus food, package that up, and distribute it out through non-profits and food banks" says Sec. Mike Naig
He says farmers who are eligible for aid can start signing up next week at local Farm Service Agency offices.
Naig says some parts of Iowa's agriculture industry are being left out the aid package. There's no money for ethanol producers, who he says, are hurting as the pandemic persists.
"When you look at the reduction in the amount of transportation and demand for fuel--as much as 50 percent--we're not travelling as much...we're not driving as much. That's reduced our consumption of fuel, and ethanol right along with it" Naig says.
He says the state's egg producers are also left out of the aid package.
Money for the agriculture aid comes from the federal CARES act.