On Thursday, April 30, 2020 United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), along with several other Midwest House members, sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting improvements to pork producer aid offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Additionally, the letter requests support by opening up existing programs for pork producers.
The supply chain for pork producers is increasingly strained due to the ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak. Pork processing plants and other food service industry closures across the country have reduced processing capacity by hundreds of thousands of hogs per day, and slashed prices by over 33%. The aid producers are projected to receive under CFAP is not commensurate with losses incurred, and additional rules are imposed that could limit the benefits of the program to the agriculture community.
You can view the official letter with a list of co-signers here.