04.15.20 TWW Letter To Secretary Perdue in Support of Agriculture Industry

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
April 15, 2020
The Honorable Sonny Perdue

Secretary
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Dear Secretary Perdue:
As COVID-19 continues to disrupt every aspect of our lives, I write to request your immediate
action on behalf of vital agricultural and food industries within Pennsylvania, as well as the many
Pennsylvanians who are experiencing food insecurity because they must stay home to save lives.
From the start of my administration’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, I designated agriculture and
the entire food supply chain as essential and life-sustaining. As is the case across the country,
Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, food processors and manufacturers, and grocery store workers are
among the many heroes working on the front lines to keep Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world fed,
despite great risk, stress, and uncertainty. We must come together as a nation to defeat and recover from
this virus. Our recovery and our national security are impossible without the certainty of a safe, secure,
and available food supply.
I ask that USDA take swift and decisive action to publicize and implement a plan to immediately
and equitably stabilize the agriculture industry, and to support agriculture producers, food processors,
workers, and local food systems, regardless of size of operation. This plan must include resources,
guidance, and protection for these workers. Every sector of agriculture, food processing, distribution,
retail, grocery stores, and farmers markets are negatively impacted by COVID-19 and need support.
Specifically, I ask that you provide immediate support in the following ways:
Direct Support through the CARES Act
The $9.5 billion included in the CARES Act – that is at your discretion to distribute across dairy,
livestock, specialty crop sectors, horticulture industries, and restaurants – has the potential to ensure that
Pennsylvania remains a national leader in agriculture. This funding must be used wisely to mitigate
against the disruption to supply chains and markets to help our farmers, producers, and processors,
including immediate access to capital for our small businesses, farm families, and agriculture industries.
Pennsylvania’s recommendations for direct support though the CARES Act include the following:
Livestock, Poultry, and Meat and Food Processing Support:

Pennsylvania is home to many livestock and poultry markets and meat processors, processing
beef, poultry, and swine on behalf of Pennsylvania farmers and farmers from many surrounding states.
We also have many food processers in all categories that take raw agricultural products and turn them into
food or other important products for a safe food supply. These processors need immediate support to help
cover expenses above and beyond normal operating costs, so that they can provide critical protections to
their workers and modify their operations to continue providing nutrition for the United States and a
225 Main Capitol Building | Harrisburg, PA 17120 | 717.787.2500 | Fax 717.772.8284 | www.pa.gov
market for our farmers. Livestock and poultry farmers that have experienced processing disruptions must
be immediately reimbursed for lost income and increased mitigation expenses.
Dairy Farmers and Processors:

Pennsylvania and New York jointly petitioned you on behalf of our dairy industries, as dairy is
the largest sector of agriculture in Pennsylvania. Our dairy farmers and dairy processors were among the
first businesses within agriculture that were most immediately impacted by supply chain disruptions due
to COVID-19. Immediate support to dairy is critical and must include direct payments to farmers, loans
and support to dairy processors, immediate purchases of dairy products and distribution through the
charitable food system, and risk management options through the Dairy Protection Program. My
administration and the Pennsylvania General Assembly have provided bipartisan support to our dairy
industry to help weather the past five years of challenges. Pennsylvania cannot afford to lose its dairy
farmers or dairy processors, and we need your immediate assistance on behalf of this industry.
Horticulture and the Green Industry:

The horticulture industry, including greenhouses, floriculture, and garden centers, have been
especially harmed by the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, spring is planting season for
homeowners and gardeners, as well as the time that many celebrate religious holidays with beautiful,
high-quality flower arrangements grown by small businesses in Pennsylvania. The social distancing and
COVID-19 mitigation steps necessary to save lives and protect our healthcare system from being
overwhelmed have meant that many businesses in the green and horticulture industries have had to
unexpectedly close their physical operations or transition to alternative delivery models just as they were
preparing to start the busiest season of the year. The sales made now are critical to sustain their businesses
throughout the year. These losses must be immediately covered through USDA assistance, and every
support must be provided to small businesses that may not historically have worked with or benefitted
from USDA programs.
Specialty Crops:
Immediate purchases of specialty crops – such as mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, and other
specialty crops – will support the charitable food system and ensure food does not go to waste. These
farmers must be compensated for lost crops due to COVID-19 disruptions.
Equitable Support for Lost Markets and Financial and Technical Support for Transition to Alternative
Delivery Models:
The necessary shutdown of food service institutions and our general way of life has disrupted
many traditional businesses within agriculture outlined above but also those in new or niche markets such
hydroponics, aquaponics, small-scale production of specialty food products for restaurants and farmers
markets, agritourism, urban agriculture, and other small businesses that support local food systems. It is
critical that USDA provide direct support to those agri-businesses and farmers who may not typically
receive or seek federal support through USDA but who are critical to local and state economies. It is also
imperative that USDA provide support to the end markets for many agri-businesses, including restaurants.
Pennsylvania is home to many farm-to-table restaurants and other food service institutions that take pride
in procuring high-quality, local, and specialty products from our Pennsylvania farmers. Our farmers also
provide these products to neighboring markets in New York, Washington D.C., and the entire U.S. As
small and large businesses scramble to react to the ever-changing marketplace, USDA must provide
financial and technical support to help agri-businesses and farmers explore and transition to new delivery
models.
Ensuring an Adequate Workforce
In addition to support through funding, we need your support of our workforce. Now more than
ever, the labor demands of Pennsylvania agriculture are high. The H2A program provides skilled workers
that sustain Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector and perform essential duties that keep our supply chain
strong. I strongly urge you not to cut adverse effect wage rates for these workers. At a time when many
critical infrastructure sectors are voluntarily providing hazard pay in recognition of the heroic sacrifices of
front-line employees within the food and agriculture sectors, it is more important than ever to maintain
living wages for all workers in agriculture. In addition, at a time of unprecedented unemployment,
lowering wages in agriculture will only serve to disadvantage this industry as it looks to hire additional
workers and compete with other industries. I am proud of those agriculture and food processing
employers in Pennsylvania that have been paying far above the federal minimum wage for years, and
many of these are employers who participate in the H2A program. It is unconscionable to consider
breaking from a contracted wage rate for workers who are risking their lives to grow and harvest the food
every American relies on for survival.
Providing Mental Health Resources
Another way that USDA can support our farm families and agriculture industry workforce is
through mental health resources and services. The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly reshaped and
disrupted our daily routines, changing nearly every aspect of how Pennsylvanians live. The agriculture
community continues to provide unwavering service to this nation, compounding the stress and anxiety in
this uncertain time. I ask that funding and resources be available for mental health services for the
agricultural and restaurant sectors authorized in the CARES Act, a critical need to support those who are
working so hard to support us.
Protecting our Most Vulnerable Citizens
As we look to support our farmers, USDA must provide every possible flexibility within the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to maximize the buying power of SNAP recipients.
More people in the nation are experiencing food insecurity than ever before. Improving existing nutrition
programs can help to address this issue, while also creating a new market outlet for our farm goods. In
order to maximize the buying power of SNAP recipients, USDA must reconsider its interpretation of
section 2302 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to allow an additional emergency allotment
to all households, up to the maximum benefit for their household size. Currently, USDA maintains that
households that receive the maximum benefits will not receive any additional SNAP assistance. This
means nearly 40 percent of SNAP households and those with the lowest incomes, will not receive any
additional assistance despite real need and funding availability.
USDA must use every tool in its toolbox to support our most vulnerable citizens experiencing
even more stress due to COVID-19, while helping to balance the food supply chain according to the
congressional intent of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. During a time of national crisis,
when our most vulnerable citizens are going without while farmers are forced to dump safe and nutritious
products because of supply chain disruptions, it is unconscionable to consider that aid and support be
withheld from those most in need when USDA has the authority and ability to help both.
Thank you for your assistance during this pandemic. Our nation’s reliance on a strong and vibrant
food and agriculture industry has been underscored through this public health emergency. While we are
up to the challenge, the support outlined here is essential to weather this storm.
Sincerely,
TOM WOLF
Governor
cc: Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation

Russell C. Redding, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

04.15.20 TWW Letter To Secretary Perdue in Support of Agriculture Industry

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04.15.20 TWW Letter To Secretary Perdue in Support of Agriculture Industry

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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

April 15, 2020

The Honorable Sonny Perdue

Dear Secretary Perdue:

Direct Support through the CARES Act

Livestock, Poultry, and Meat and Food Processing Support:

Dairy Farmers and Processors:

Horticulture and the Green Industry:

Ensuring an Adequate Workforce

Providing Mental Health Resources

Protecting our Most Vulnerable Citizens

cc: Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation

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