Thread by @Roots_Journey, Supporting my struggling dairy and pork farming friends to while I cross [...]

Supporting my struggling dairy and pork farming friends to while I cross my fingers for some good news to report from this late night @USDA press call with @SecretarySonny.

Stay tuned to @SuccessfulFarm for the latest about #coronavirus’ impact on agriculture.

More than ever our country knows where their food comes from, says @SecretarySonny.

Earlier today @realDonaldTrump and @SecretarySonny announced a $19 billion program to help farmers. It will be broken into two parts:

Part 1: $16 billion in direct payments to farmers. This will be distributed regardless of operation& #39;s size or market outlet, @SecretarySonny says. @USDA knows these funds will only cover a portion of the #coronavirus impact.

Part 2: @USDA will purchase $3 billion of fruit, veggies, and proteins for food banks and other non-profits.

Now taking questions from reporters across the country.

Q1: Nothing was said about biofuels. What is going on there?

A1: Biofuels (corn farmers) are not included. "Frankly, there& #39;s not enough money to go around," says @SecretarySonny.

Q2: When will checks to farmers be in the mail?

A2: Hopefully by the end of the May, says @SecretarySonny acknowledging it will be hard and his people would like longer to work on it, but farmers need help now.

Q3: Have you requested more testing for meat processing plants?

A3: There have been several conversations involving plant owners, governors, and more. It is not the role of @USDA to get the tests.

Now a series of questions about the logistics and public/private partnerships that will be used to distribute the aid and food @USDA plans to purchase.

@SecretarySonny calls it a "logistics rubrics cube."

Now a question about the issues livestock farmers are seeing with the packing industry. @SecretarySonny says he has extended the investigation, but it& #39;s not prudent to discuss an ongoing investigation.

He says he plans to have a task force to learn more.

@SecretarySonny just wrapped up tonight& #39;s call, but says more information will be coming next week and as all of this unfolds.

Keep an eye on @SuccessfulFarm for the latest. I& #39;ll have a story ready for tomorrow morning& #39;s newsletter.

I& #39;ll be adding more details over the next few hours, but for anyone who& #39;s not a night-owl, you can get the basic facts in this @SuccessfulFarm story I just published. https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/what-is-in-usda-s-19-billion-coronavirus-relief-program">https://www.agriculture.com/news/busi...

What is in USDA’s $19 billion coronavirus relief program?

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced $19 billion in aid for farmers and ranchers hit hard by the COVID-19 national emergency Friday.

https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/what-is-in-usda-s-19-billion-coronavirus-relief-program

Okay, I& #39;m going cross-eyed. More updates to come in the morning. Subscribe to the @SuccessfulFarm newsletter to make sure you don& #39;t miss any of our #coronavirus news coverage. Goodnight!

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I just updated the @SuccessfulFarm story again with the response I got from @USDA when I asked, "Is there a list of crops that are eligible for direct support under part one of the program?"

Here& #39;s a screenshot of what a spokesperson had to say:

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