National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles says current bridge payments are not enough to offset the financial pressure specialty crop growers are facing, from high input costs and weaker market prices, according to a news story published today by the Red River Farm Network.

“I think USDA is doing as much as they possibly can with the resources they have available to them,” Quarles reportedly said.

“The problem is those resources just flat out aren’t enough. They’ve said that perhaps specialty crops might get about $1 billion of a much larger package, but the specialty crop subsector is looking at requiring about $5 billion to get through this crisis here.”

Quarles says industry groups are working closely with Congress and the administration to push for additional assistance, potentially tied to must-pass legislation later this month.

Source: Red River Farm Network. Full story here
Image: Credit Alexei from Pixabay