releases: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gardner-urges-usda-to-provide-covid-19-relief-for-bison-industry
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gardner-urges-usda-to-provide-covid-19-relief-for-bison-industry | Gardner Urges USDA to Provide COVID-19 Relief for Bison Industry | 2020-10-02 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Republican | House | CO | Cory Gardner | G000562 | www.gardner.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and 11 of his bipartisan colleagues are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide stability and relief forbisonproducers struggling because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through a purchase ofbisonmeat. Like most other sectors of agriculture, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has hit thebisonindustry hard. Significant disruptions in the farmers' market sector, restaurant trade, and agritourism have altogether compounded the difficulties forbison ranchers. According to the NationalBisonAssociation, between January and April of this year, bull prices declined by an average of 37 percent; heifer prices declined by an average of 25 percent; and the cost of feedingbisonin finishing facilities increased by an average of 12 percent,wrote Senator Gardner and his colleagues. More than ever, thebisonindustry needs support. An unanticipated over-supply of harvest-ready animals, drought across the heart ofbison production territory, and the COVID-19 public health emergency have created an uncertain economic outlook,the senators wrote. The full text of the letter is availablehereand below: Dear Under Secretary Ibach, Thank you for your efforts to help farmers and ranchers and for includingbisonin the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 2. In light of the continuing over supply challenges facingbisonproducers, we write to express our support for the NationalBisonAssociation's request for a $17 million Section 32 purchase ofbisonmeat. Like most other sectors of agriculture, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has hit thebisonindustry hard. Significant disruptions in the farmers' market sector, restaurant trade, and agritourism have altogether compounded the difficulties forbison ranchers. According to the NationalBisonAssociation, between January and April of this year, bull prices declined by an average of 37 percent; heifer prices declined by an average of 25 percent; and the cost of feedingbisonin finishing facilities increased by an average of 12 percent. More than ever, thebisonindustry needs support. An unanticipated over-supply of harvest-ready animals, drought across the heart ofbison production territory, and the COVID-19 public health emergency have created an uncertain economic outlook. As you know, existing authority under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935 (Public Law 74-320) allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make purchases of farm products to be used for distribution through the federal food and nutrition programs. Granting the NationalBison Association's $17 million purchase request would provide much needed stability and market relief forbisonproducers struggling in the current environment. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, or should you need additional information. Gardner has requested significant support for Colorado agriculture producers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Gardner encouraged Colorado agricultural producers to apply fornew coronavirus reliefmade available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in September 2020. In September 2020, Gardner voted for the Delivering Immediate Relief to America's Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act, which would have provided an additional$20 billion in support for agriculture producersif Senate Democrats did not obstruct the package from moving forward. Gardner wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue in September 2020 requesting that resources made available through the CARES Act be used toprovide support for wheat farmersthat includes assistance for all classes of wheat. Gardner cosponsored bipartisan legislation in July 2020 that would allow the USDA toauthorize emergency haying and grazingon land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) during a pandemic like COVID-19. In June 2020, Gardner hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Colorado andheld a Farm Bureau stakeholder roundtablein Keenesburg, where they discussed COVID-19 relief for agricultural producers. In a letter to his Republican colleagues in the U.S. Senate, Gardner called for changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provideadditional reliefto small agricultural producers. Gardner, Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), and 26 U.S. Senators urged President Trump toeliminate payment limitsfor livestock, dairy and specialty crop producers in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Gardner, Bennet, and Colorado Governor Jared Polismade a unified requestfor CARES Act changes to benefit Coloradans, including modifications to the PPP that would ensure small agricultural producers who employ individuals under the H-2A program can have their payroll expenses count for loan forgiveness purposes. Gardner and Bennetsent a letter urging the USDAto ensure the needs of Colorado's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are met as the agency allocates disaster relief funds. Gardnersent a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perduecalling on the department to extend assistance to the dairy industry, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gardner and Bennetrequested the USDA to take additional steps to provide relief for farmersto ensure the continuity of food supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gardner and a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators urged the USDA to providemaximum flexibility to farmersby ensuring that temporary flexibilities on farm loans announced by the Farm Service Agency were made permanent during COVID-19 and ensuring adequate and equitable access to credit during this period of market uncertainty. In April 2020, Gardnerwrote to USDA Secretary Sonny Perduerequesting that he provide immediate assistance to cattle producers by using the resources provided in the recently enacted CARES Act. ### Cory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |