AFT Established Fund To Help Farmers Through Coronavirus Outbreak

In response to the coronavirus and the widespread impact it’s having on the farming community the America Farmland Trust recently created the Farmer Relief Fund. Addie Candib, Pacific Northwest Regional Director at AFT said people may not realize how the rapid spread of COVID-19 has hit the farming community in very specific ways. She cited one study that said between March and May of this year, local food systems are set to loose somewhere in the order of $1.3 billion.

“In some communities, farmers markets are closed, farmers don’t have access to the same direct to consumer outlets that they’ve been historically relying upon.  Farmers who have historically sold to schools and restaurants are no longer able to depend on the sales outlets.”

In response, eligible farmers will receive cash grants of up to $1,000, to help them weather the current turbulence.

“What we’re imagining here is that we’re not necessarily thinking we’re replacing people’s revenue, we’re hoping to be able to do is contribute to farmers be able to pivot their business models," Candib said. "If farmers close their doors during this COVID -19 pandemic they may never reopen.”

Candib said that $1,000 could help a farmer set up an on-line shop, or pay for fuel to be able to do home deliveries, and so much more. She added the more people that donated to the Fund, the more farmers they can help nationwide.

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