FEEDSTUFFS IN FOCUS: Is current COVID-19 aid for livestock producers enough?

All segments of the agriculture industry have been impacted in some way by COVID-19. From supply chain disruptions to altered consumption patterns; eating at home instead of at restaurants, for example. 

The animal protein segments have been particularly hard-hit with reduced slaughter capacity driving down prices at the farm level despite higher prices at retail.

In this episode we hear from Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Lane spoke with Feedstuffs policy editor Jacqui Fatka about the unique challenges facing the nation’s farmers, ranchers and cattle raisers, including the organization’s concerns with some of the current government stimulus programs like CFAP.

While some estimates project government assistance as high as 36% of farm income this year, to many it feels as though more can be done. Lane outlines some of the things NCBA is asking of Congress and USDA to help bring some additional relief to farm country, and discusses the challenges of asking for more in an election year… and figuring out how to pay for it all. 

He also explains NCBA's current policy and priorities related to a host of other issues, including Mandatory Price Reporting, Country of Origin Labeling, and voluntary process-verified origin labeling programs.

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