CALF_News_April_May_2021

32 CALF News • April | May 2021 • www.calfnews.net By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor M any cattle producers believe they were short- changed in initial Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments from COVID relief funds. Those and claims from other food producers and processors who believe they were also shorted are being evaluated in an attempt to make it right, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Vilsack, starting his second stint as ag secretary, spoke during March’s Commodity Classic virtual convention. The Classic includes national corn, wheat, soybean and sorghum producer association leaders and typically draws several thousand farmers from across the nation. Key issues are discussed, along with more efficient production and marketing techniques. Vilsack focused on creating better commodity markets to help producers improve their crop and livestock production livelihood. “[Statistics show] nearly 90 percent of farm families do not make the majority of the money they earn from farm operations,” said Vilsack, President Biden’s pick as agriculture secretary following eight years on the job under President Obama. He said the weak farm production income suggests the United States should create better markets so producers can excel in “what they love to do.” It didn’t help when markets were shattered after COVID- 19 shocked the nation and world in early 2020. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Secu- rity (CARES) Act to stimulate the economy. From that came the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). However, cow-calf and other cattle producers argued they were among those who weren’t compensated as fairly as other producers. And they still want to know why. “That’s part of the [USDA] evaluation of CFAP to find the precise demand and need, and to know why some were not helped or inadequately helped,” Vilsack said. “We’re grappling with that. When all is said and done, we want to make sure the people who needed the help receive help and are not forgotten about.” He said some in the food supply chain, such as meat proces- sors, “spent money to protect their workers,” and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will help determine if they also need additional CFAP funds. He encouraged pro- ducers to continue to sign up for CFAP. “I suspect we will find that with the money we have, it will be difficult to meet all of the needs,” Vilsack said, adding, “We will try to be creative and there may be supplement funds available.” Market Expansion USDA plans to join forces with trade groups to expand export markets under the new trade agreements and reach additional markets worldwide. With regard to the U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement, Vilsack said he has spoken with Canadian agriculture officials with concerns about wheat and dairy trade. U.S. trade representatives have also pressed Mexi- can officials on allowing GMO crops into that market without barriers. Vilsack said USDA is confident that China will be buying more U.S. ag products, “but the China relationship is complex and has multiple layers.” It’s important for USDA to be engaged in conversations in national security discussions, he contended, to ensure agri- culture is understood before decisions are made in policies on climate change, cyber terrorism or other international matters. Vilsack said he was pleased that China opened access to buy U.S. beef, but was concerned about delays in China’s overall purchases of U.S. ag products to meet the Phase 1 trade agree- ment guidelines. Vilsack said much attention will be paid to U.S. climate change efforts and methods of preserving farmland topsoil. “We’re losing about 4.5 tons of topsoil per year in the U.S. and replacing it with only a half ton,” he warned. “We need to be investing in incentives to embrace cover crops, crop diversity, rotational grazing and other practices we know will help.” Better renewable fuel usage, carbon credits and efforts to transform crop and livestock production waste into energy are also on Vilsack’s plate. So is rebuilding of USDA’s workforce. “There are many vacancies in the department,” he said. “Whether it’s FSA offices or NRCS, we’ll do what we can to make it happen.”  USDA Evaluating CFAP Payments Sec. Tom Vilsack Urges Producers to Continue CFAP Signups Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack