WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — The USDA is preparing to release payment levels for the upcoming bridge assistance program. Those numbers could come as soon as today, but there’s been significant pushback on the cash for specialty crop growers.
USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg told RFD-TV News on Friday that the $1 billion set aside for specialty crop growers was all the Department had to work with, and that any additional assistance would need to come from Congress.
“So, this generous opportunity to bring resources to the farmers was the most that USDA could put together given our budgetary constraints,” Linberg said. “Certainly, carving out $1 billion of the $12 billion package for specialty crops indicates we understand and know the importance of that particular segment of the farm economy and are delivering results to them, too. But more broadly than that, additional spending that may or may not happen would be something that would have to be driven by Congress on a go-forward basis.”
Lindberg says it is anyone’s guess what Congress will do down the road, but adds that USDA has a responsibility to ensure resources are spent efficiently and effectively.
