The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday said contract poultry and hog growers are eligible to receive relief funds through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
The change was made a few days before Christmas after Congress passed a $900 billion stimulus package, which extended relief to farmers who had been left out of the previously passed relief measure, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
With this move, lawmakers earmarked $2.3 billion in additional support funds for agriculture, including $1.5 billion for contract meat-chicken growers and $479 million for contract hog growers.
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Previously these groups were left out of coronavirus relief bills because of the relationship between the farmer and a meat production company. Typically, contract farmers raise the animals, but do not own them.
However, the Farm Bureau said these producers saw their incomes decline as their barns remained empty for extended periods of time because of supply chain disruptions during the pandemic.
Contract growers can request up to 80% of their reported losses from last year. The USDA's Farm Service Agency is accepting new or modified applications from Tuesday through Feb. 26, according to its website.
More information is available at farmers.gov/cfap.