America’s independent turkey farmers should be deemed eligible for relief provided by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and three of his Republican colleagues wrote in a Sept. 17 letter sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue.
“The poultry sector, much like other livestock sectors, is facing unprecedented losses due to the shutdown of the food service industry and broader slowdown of the economy,” the members wrote. “In particular, independent turkey growers carry the costs and losses of their operation in the same way as cattle and hog farmers, yet these turkey growers remain ineligible for CFAP funds.”
Many producers are left ineligible due to the CFAP not adequately recognizing the unique business structure of their operations from the rest of the sector, wrote Rep. Emmer and the lawmakers, who said that they “are confident that if allowed to apply for this program, many independent poultry producers will be able to demonstrate that they have suffered a 5 percent or greater loss, the threshold required of other commodities in order to receive CFAP funds.”
Rep. Emmer and the members also urged Secretary Perdue to finalize a formula in time to allow independent turkey producers to be eligible for any additional and upcoming CFAP rounds.
“Our poultry producers are struggling much like other agricultural commodities,” Rep. Emmer said in a separate statement. “The administration has taken tremendous efforts to support our farmers during this time, and assistance is also needed for one of the top agricultural products grown out of Minnesota. Turkey growers have supported our grocery stores and kept food on our plates for months – now we owe them our support.”
The members who joined Rep. Emmer in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO). Their letter is supported by Joel Brandenberger, president of the National Turkey Federation; John Peterson, a member of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association; and Brandon Kliethemes, an independent turkey grower in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District.