U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) led more than two dozen colleagues in requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide COVID-19 relief funds to America’s wheat growers impacted by price fluctuations during the pandemic.
“COVID-19 and other factors outside their control are depressing local cash prices and futures prices,” wrote Rep. Lucas and the members in a Sept. 4 letter sent to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. “So far, relief programs have had minimal applicability to wheat farmers.”
Among the 25 other members who joined Rep. Lucas in signing the bipartisan letter were U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Greg Walden (R-OR), and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN).
“The economic impact of COVID-19 has been experienced by all wheat farmers, particularly with the 2020 wheat harvest wrapped up in most areas of the country,” Rep. Lucas and his colleagues wrote, citing data from USDA’s Aug. 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report showing that “demand for wheat for food use has been negatively affected by COVID-19 given a drop in food consumption away from home.”
The congressmen requested that Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds be provided immediately for COVID-19 losses on 2020 production for all classes of wheat. “We understand that more resources from Congress will surely be needed to address the breadth of economic losses resulting from COVID-19, and we are committed to pursuing additional resources to help farmers as part of any larger aid package developed by Congress,” they wrote.
Their letter has been endorsed by the National Association of Wheat Growers and the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association.
“As farmers across Oklahoma, and the nation, struggle by no fault of their own, I strongly urge Secretary Perdue and USDA to expand CFAP [Coronavirus Food Assistance Program] eligibility to include all wheat varieties,” Rep. Lucas said separately. “While I appreciate the efforts taken so far by Secretary Perdue to help producers weather the impacts of the pandemic, I remain committed to ensuring America’s grain and fiber farmers are not left out of this crucial program.”