Washington, D.C. (March 25, 2020)—The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today applauded the Senate’s agreement on legislation to help address the economic downturn being caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As our nation responds to the unprecedented public health crisis presented by the coronavirus, the Senate’s action today will help provide some needed relief to the families and businesses impacted by the pandemic’s economic fallout,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. “Especially important are provisions to help America’s farmers, ranchers and their co-ops weather this uncertainty. As the pandemic runs its course, we will continue to monitor whether additional measures may be needed to mitigate the impacts.”
Conner also noted that many other provisions in the legislation would help a broad range of businesses across the country, including rural America.
“We urge the Senate to approve this package later today and believe the House should quickly take up this legislation so that it can head to the president’s desk without delay,” Conner concluded. “Our country’s farmer co-ops and their producer-owners stand ready to help their fellow Americans weather the unprecedented crisis we currently face and this legislation will help provide the support of the rural economy necessary to do so. Our hearts continue to go out to all those impacted by this crisis.”
About NCFC
Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America’s farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which are in turn composed of nearly 2,000 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also include 26 state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.
America’s farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing.
