IARN – The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on the agriculture industry, from growers to processors to end users. Iowa’s agriculture industry earlier this week received some much-needed relief.

Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) today allocated approximately $100 million one point two five billion in federal CARES Act relief funds for a range of agricultural programs. Most of the funds went to help producers, according to Jake Swanson, agricultural policy adviser to Governor Reynolds.

“Sixty million dollars will go to the Iowa Livestock Producer Relief Program (fund). This will be administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority,” Swanson said. “We will provide grants of up to $10,000 to eligible producers, largely to serve as working capital to help our breeders recover from this COVID-19 related impact. »

The funds were distributed among seven programs, including:

State subsidy program for biofuels – $15.5 million administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority

Retail Renewable Fuels Recovery Program – $7 million administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa Beginning Farmer Debt Relief Fund – $6 million administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority

Meat Processing Development and Expansion Program – $2 million administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Agricultural Commodities and Protein Program – $500,000 administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa Disposal Assistance Program – Up to $9 million administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

For more on this story, including comments from Governor Reynolds’ agricultural policy adviser, Jake Swanson, visit the Iowa Agri-Food Radio Network.