Ag News

Payment Protection Program May Not Be Replenished Until May

IARN — Congress’ bipartisan program, designed to assist small business owners with payroll, rent, mortgage interest, and utilities, recently exacerbated appropriated funding.

The Small Business Association is currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) due to deficient funding. Small business owners exhausted the 349-billion dollars appropriated by Congress in late March. Not everyone received a slice of the pie.

An Iowa farmer, who employs a handful of laborers, told Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) he “went through the hassle of signing up” only to find the funding run out soon after. Read more

Department Of Agriculture Rolls Out $19-Billion Relief Program

IARN — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials late Friday rolled out the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The new program, which utilizes funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, will assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers affected by COVID-19. It consists of two components, shares Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Read more

NCBA: Beef Supply Is OK

IARN — Panic buying has been the norm for the past month or so. Consumers are hearing about closures of processing plants and are worried that we are going to see a major disruption in food supplies. (Just remember how everybody fought over toilet paper.) Just over a week ago, we learned the Tama beef processing plant was closing down. What is this meaning for our beef supply? The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says we have enough beef for now. Read more

Meat Demand Is Surging During Pandemic

IARN — Our lives have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Things that we used to take for granted would now be considered a great luxury. Eating out at a restaurant would be one of those luxuries that we are missing out on. With the change in how the food supply is being used, we are seeing changes in demand. Especially when it comes to the meat we are preparing at home. Read more