NPC News Rep. Mike Simpson Joins Eye on Potatoes Podcast Congressman discusses digging out from oversupply of 2019 potatoes
As potato growers continue to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic fallout, Congressman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and the entire Idaho congressional delegation are championing policy solutions to support the nation’s struggling potato industry. In late May, Congressman Simpson joined the National Potato Council (NPC) “Eye On Potatoes” podcast to discuss the role Congress needs to play as the industry works to dig out from a 1.5 billion pound oversupply of 2019 potatoes stuck in the supply chain, and seek meaningful direct payment relief to keep family farms in business.
NPC CEO Kam Quarles called in from Washington D.C. to discuss improvements the U.S. Department of Agriculture should make to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and the $300 million in additional potato purchases the industry needs to help bring supply and demand back into balance. To download Rep. Simpson’s discussion and subscribe to the NPC “Eye on Potatoes” podcast, visit: https://www.buzzsprout. com/770336/3962309-u-s-rep-mikesimpson-on-congressional-relief-forfamily-farms.
Congressman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) joined the National Potato Council (NPC) “Eye on Potatoes” podcast to discuss the role Congress needs to play as the industry works to dig out from a 1.5 billion pound oversupply of 2019 potatoes.
USDA Direct Payment Program Faces Challenges On June 4, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that it has approved more than $545 million in payments to producers who have applied for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
As the program roll-out continues and more details become available, deficiencies in the program are becoming more evident. It is currently unclear if producers with contracts can participate in any meaningful way.
that averages five feet deep, your personal circumstances vary greatly if you’re in the deep or shallow end,” Quarles reasons.
FSA has received over 86,000 applications since the application period opened on May 26 and made payments to 35,000 producers.
LOW-LEVEL PAYMENTS Additionally, the potential payments are set at levels that are not substantial in the categories in which potatoes qualify.
Through CFAP, USDA is making $16 billion available in financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five percent or greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.
“The specialty crop sector has been particularly difficult for USDA to assist, as the data they have is clearly not comprehensive for numerous fruits and vegetables that are serving the food service industry,” says NPC CEO Kam Quarles. “That missing data created holes in the program that left heavilyimpacted specialty crops without meaningful support,” Quarles adds. 52 BC�T July
In the largest category that left out many specialty crops, including potatoes, USDA used a national average to determine which commodities suffered a loss great enough to allow them in the program. “These types of averages don’t work well for commodities produced in numerous states and circumstances such as potatoes. If you are standing on the bottom of a swimming pool
FSA will accept applications through August 28, 2020.
Producers can download the CFAP application and other eligibility forms from farmers.gov/cfap.