The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new initiatives aimed at supporting specialty crop producers and enhancing crop storage facilities in response to the challenges posed by recent natural disasters. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack revealed these plans, which include a $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative and a $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program.
These programs are designed to help farmers who grow fruits, vegetables, and nuts overcome market barriers and access necessary pre-market storage for their crops following severe weather events. The USDA anticipates significant participation from southeastern farmers affected by Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton.
"From providing high-quality, nutritious, American-grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts to our nation and the world, to serving as economic pillars of their communities, specialty crop producers play a critical role in the success of U.S. agriculture," said Vilsack. "The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops and Commodity Storage Assistance programs will be important for producers in every corner of the United States."
These initiatives complement the disaster assistance package proposed by the Biden-Harris Administration to Congress. This package includes resources for USDA's Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP), alongside nutrition assistance and rural infrastructure support.
The Marketing Assistance Program aims to expand markets for specialty crops by addressing higher marketing costs associated with perishability and specialized handling requirements. Applications are expected to open in December 2024.
The Commodity Storage Assistance Program will provide commercial storage facilities like grain elevators and packinghouses to assist producers facing reduced storage access due to natural disasters. This program builds on previous efforts such as the Emergency Grain Storage Assistance Program.
In addition to these programs, USDA is offering flexibilities in its disaster assistance programs to expedite recovery processes for those impacted by hurricanes. These include extended signup periods for various conservation programs.
Overall, USDA's actions align with its broader mission under the Biden-Harris Administration to transform America's food system towards resilience, fairness, safety, equity, and sustainability.
