As part of its wider relief efforts, the US government is planning to buy milk and meats worth $15.5 billion from local producers to support their businesses amid the health and economic crisis. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue stated on Wednesday that the purchases should help alleviate pressures on US farmers, while at the same time bolstering food supplies to feed those in need.
The decision to purchase meat and milk from farmers directly comes as groups lobby for the government to help local producers who are struggling to get their products to market due to supply chain disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Some farmers who are unable to get their products to market on time are reportedly being forced to throw out their supplies.
On Tuesday, the National Pork Producers Council had called o the government to purchase more than $1 billion worth of pork products from local producers to supplement food programs. Other groups representing agricultural farmers have also expressed support for government-backed purchases.
In an interview on network television, Purdue had stated that they want to purchase milk and other meat products from farmers to both help out local producers and to fill the country's food banks. He added that any excess products purchased can even be used towards international humanitarian aid for countries also suffering from the crisis.
According to reports citing sources close to the matter, the first phase of the plan will involve the Department of Agriculture buying up to $15.5 billion worth of milk and meats to bolster the country's food supply chain. With the aid, the government hopes to prevent consumer food shortages amid the pandemic.
The rising infections combined with the ongoing lockdown and stay-at-home orders have severely affected the nation's food supply chain. Several producers have also been forced to shut down operations as their workers test positive for the virus. Earlier in the week, the US' largest pork processor, Smithfield Foods, announced that it is shutting down its biggest processing plant after hundreds of its employees had tested positive.
Smithfield Foods, which processes around 5 percent of the nation's pork products, warned that there could be major shortages if processing plants continue to shut down. It also warned that farmers and suppliers will also be heavily affected.
With fewer buyers and disruptions in processing and deliveries, US dairy farmers have reportedly begun to throw away milk. As laborers and truck drivers became scarce, farmers are being left with a massive surplus that cannot be processed or packed for public consumption.
