Northwest Senators Call For COVID-19 Help For Wheat Growers

It’s not often that all six of the Northwest Senators are on the same page. But as proven over and over, 2020 is not your typical year.

Washington’s Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Idaho’s Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, and Oregon’s Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined bipartisan group of lawmakers calling on Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to provide financial assistance to wheat growers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter calls for funds from the CARES Act to help address price impacts for all varieties. The letter says, in part, "As Members of Congress representing wheat-producing states, we write regarding the deteriorating economic conditions being experienced by wheat farmers across the country."

When looking at the 2019 crop, Washington and Idaho were in the top ten when it came to wheat producing states. Oregon was just on the outside at #11.

Click Here to read Wednesday's letter.

In addition to the Northwest senators, the bipartisan letter was signed by Pat Roberts (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Gardner (R-CO), James Inhofe (R-OK), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and John Thune (R-SD).

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