USDA Urged to Provide Relief for Wheat Growers

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  • USDA Urged to Provide Relief for Wheat Growers
    USDA Urged to Provide Relief for Wheat Growers
  • USDA Urged to Provide Relief for Wheat Growers
    USDA Urged to Provide Relief for Wheat Growers
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Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN-07), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Mike Conaway (TX-11), and 23 other House colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting funds in the CARES Act be provided to wheat growers of all wheat varieties to address price impacts from COVID-19.

“As Members of Congress representing wheat farmers across the country, we write regarding the deteriorating economic conditions being experienced on the ground now with the 2020 wheat harvest almost complete,” the Members wrote. “Whether it’s farmers who wrapped up harvest in May, those in the field harvesting their crops now, or those looking ahead to harvest in the coming weeks and trying to manage risk by forward contracting their crop, COVID-19 and other factors outside their control are depressing local cash prices and futures prices. So far, relief programs have had minimal applicability to wheat farmers. We ask that you use the resources available through the CARES Act to provide support for 2020 crop losses and to include all classes of wheat.”

The bipartisan letter was signed by 26 U.S. Representatives, including Reps. Frank Lucas (OK-03), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Mike Conaway (TX-11), Roger Marshall (KS-01), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), TJ Cox (CA-21), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Greg Gianforte (MT-AL), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Steve Watkins (KS-02), Filemón Vela (TX-34), Tom Cole (OK-04), Liz Cheney (WY-AL), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Jim Hagedorn (MN-01), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Greg Walden (OR-02), Mike Simpson (ID-02), Kendra Horn (OK-05), Jim Costa (CA-16), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Mike Bost (IL-2), and Ken Buck (CO-04).

“On behalf of Oklahoma’s wheat growers and our farmer members across the country, we sincerely appreciate Congressman Lucas’s commitment to making sure all wheat farmers are included in USDA’s COVID relief programs,” said National Association of Wheat Growers President Dave Milligan. “Our hard red winter wheat growers in Oklahoma have been done with harvest for this year’s crop for several weeks already and, despite facing significant price drops related to the coronavirus, they’ve been left out of CFAP. Thank you, Congressman Lucas, for your leadership on this important issue.”

“In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, USDA launched the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to help meet the needs of our nation’s farmers and ranchers. While USDA has provided critical assistance to hard red spring and durum wheat farmers, unfortunately, farmers of other wheat varieties have been left out, suffering from significant volatility and lower prices due to the pandemic,” said Congressman Lucas. “As farmers across Oklahoma, and the nation, struggle by no fault of their own, I strongly urge Secretary Perdue and USDA to expand CFAP eligibility to include all wheat varieties. 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.”

“On behalf of Oklahoma wheat producers, I want to thank Congressman Lucas for leading the effort in the House to address the economic challenges wheat growers continue to face,” said Altus farmer Keeff Felty, President of the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association and Secretary of the National Wheat Growers Association. “COVID-19 and other pressures on markets continue to impact wheat producers across the country and I am grateful Congressman Lucas recognizes this and is the leader in the House for adding all wheat growers to the federal aid programs.”