Farmers & Rural Communities
This page will be updated as more information becomes available
NEW: Wisconsin Beginning Farmer Resource Guide
Set up like a road map, this guide walks beginning farmers through the various resources available to support them through their journey of starting an agriculture operation, farm, or food business. The road map includes stops for phases such as Brainstorming, Learning, Planning, Funding, Forming, Operating and Networking, in addition to other helpful resources. Click here to see the guide
Congress has passed several rounds of financial assistance and relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including most recently the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides needed relief to our farmers, including:
- $4 billion to address major pandemic-related disruptions throughout the food supply chain; invest in new infrastructure for farmers, food processors, and farmers markets to build resiliency; monitor COVID-19 in animals; support small meat and poultry processors; protect food and farm workers on the job; and increase food donations.
- More than $5 billion in debt relief and assistance for farmers of color who have faced widespread and longstanding discrimination and have seen disproportionate impacts from the pandemic.
Jump to:
- Resources for Wisconsin Farmers and Rural Communities
- The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Assistance to Agricultural Producers from USDA
- The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
- The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Farm Loan Assistance
- Unemployment Insurance: Expanded Eligibility
- Additional Resources
- For information on direct payments to farmers under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), please click here.
- For more information on support for farmers and agricultural enterprises through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), please click here.
- For information on support for rural entrepreneurs through the USDA, please click here
- For the latest information from USDA and coronavirus, please click here.
- For a comprehensive COVID-19 federal resource guide courtesy of USDA, please click here
- USDA’s Farm Service Agency is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibility for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need. For more information, please click here.
- For information on Rural Development loan payment assistance and application deadline extensions, please click here.
- For information on emergency internet resources and utility service help, please click here.
- For information on the Federal Communications Commission's Lifeline Program, which provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone service, broadband Internet access service, or voice-broadband bundled service purchased from participating providers, please click here.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides $4 billion to the USDA to provide additional relief for agricultural producers. Of the $4 billion, $3.6 billion of the new funds will be used:
- To purchase food and agricultural commodities and seafood, including for distribution to individuals in need in partnership with nonprofit organizations and restaurants;
- To make grants and loans to small or midsized food producers or distributors, seafood processors, farmers markets, and producer; and
- To make payments for certain crop losses.
USDA will use $300 million to conduct animal surveillance related to COVID-19. $100 million is provided to reduce the amount of overtime inspection costs for federally inspected small and very small meat, poultry, and egg processors.
The $4 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is in addition to the $13 billion provided by the December 2020 COVID relief law, which included:
- $9.7 billion for assistance to farmers and ranchers, including specialty crops, and floriculture; and
- $1.5 billion to purchase food, agricultural products, and seafood for individuals in need.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 starts to address the needs of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers by providing $1 billion to the USDA, which will be used for:
- Outreach, mediation, financial training, and cooperative development for socially disadvantaged groups;
- A commission to address racial inequity at the USDA; and
- Research, education, and extension/outreach at universities that serve socially disadvantaged groups.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 gives the USDA authority to provide farm loan assistance by making payments of up to 120% of outstanding agricultural loans as of January 1, 2021, to help farmers and ranchers from socially disadvantaged groups.
Details on these new programs have yet to be determined, but this webpage will be updated as the USDA implements this authority. Please also check the USDA’s website on COVID relief for updates. In addition, the USDA’s Farm Service Administration (FSA) is expected to continue playing a central role in providing service to agricultural producers. Local FSA agents and offices can be found here.
Besides direct assistance to farmers and agricultural businesses, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 extended the eligibility for unemployment benefits and the additional amounts Wisconsinites can receive. This includes independent contractors, part-time workers, and others not normally eligible for unemployment benefits. Please click here for additional information.
If your job has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can apply for unemployment benefits in Wisconsin here.
Additional Information and Resources
For general information and resources about coronavirus for Wisconsinites, please click here.
For more information about the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, please click here.
For information about the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for farmers and rural communities, please click here.
Disclaimer: All information, content, and materials available on this page are for general informational purposes only.
This webpage shares information, email addresses and links to other sites or entities on the Internet that are not maintained by Senator Baldwin. Resources, email addresses and links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Senator Baldwin of any of the products, services or opinions of the entity or organization or individual. Senator Baldwin bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
