The farmdoc team discusses the impact and influence of the Coronavirus on farmers and agriculture. As we learn more we’ll update this page with articles and videos to help inform our audience.
We invite you to use the button on the right to submit questions. We will do our best to address them during the upcoming articles and videos.
Pandemic Assistance to Illinois Agricultural Producers in 2020 from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
In response to market disruptions and economic harm caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the U.S. federal government initiated a series of relief programs for U.S. consumers and businesses, including…
Have Consumers’ Food Values Changed During the Covid-19 Pandemic?
There are many factors that influence consumers’ food purchasing decisions – taste, price, appearance, environmental impact, etc. Researchers and marketers alike are interested in the weight consumers place on these…
What Changes Are in the New Stimulus Bill That Affect Farmers?
On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 was signed into law. There were many items in this legislation that affected farmers. There were changes to the…
Pumpkin Patches during the Pandemic: How Agritourism Operations in Illinois are Coping with Covid-19
This year agritourism looks more different than ever before. Apple picking in a mask. Pumpkin patches with one-way signs. Pick up produce boxes instead of browsing at the farmers’ market.…
Household Food Acquisition Behaviors during Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many of consumers’ everyday behaviors, including how they get food. The extent to which an individual’s behavior changes is likely dependent on many factors. In…
Ethanol Production Profits during the COVID Pandemic
It is widely acknowledged that the U.S. ethanol industry has been negatively impacted by the COVID pandemic. The plight of ethanol producers has prompted calls for financial relief from the…
World Market Conditions Suggest Set-Asides Not an Effective Farm Policy for Corn and Soybeans
As set-asides are discussed as a farm policy alternative, the changing global nature of agricultural production needs to be considered. As world production of corn and soybeans has increased significantly…
USDA Announces “Pandemic Assistance for Producers,” New CFAP Aid
Bloomberg’s Mike Dorning reported on Wednesday that, “The Biden administration announced $12 billion in new farm aid, and said it will seek to expand Covid assistance to producers that weren’t…
American Rescue Plan and Agriculture, Measure Includes Billions in Aid for Disadvantaged Farmers
Laura Reiley reported on the front page of today’s Washington Post that, “A little-known element of President Biden’s massive stimulus relief package would pay billions of dollars to disadvantaged farmers…
Congress Passes COVID Relief Stimulus Package, with Agricultural and Nutrition Provisions
Emily Cochrane reported on the front page of Tuesday’s New York Times that, “Congress on Monday night overwhelmingly approved a $900 billion stimulus package that would send billions of dollars…
New Round of Farm Aid for COVID Losses Announced, and Causes Snag in Congressional Spending Bill
Andrew Restuccia and Jesse Newman reported in Friday’s Wall Street Journal that, “President Trump unveiled $13 billion in new aid to farmers facing economic harm from the coronavirus pandemic as…
Senate Releases Draft COVID Relief Measure (HEALS Act), a Follow-Up to CARES Act, but Different From House Passed HEROES Act
Washington Post writers Erica Werner, Jeff Stein and Seung Min Kim reported earlier this week that, “A fraught showdown over the next coronavirus relief bill got underway Monday as Senate…
China’s Restrictions on Food Imports Meet Resistance from Exporters
Last week, Bloomberg’s Mike Dorning reported that, “U.S. health and agricultural authorities issued thinly veiled criticism of new demands from China for food-exporting companies to sign documents stating that they…
COVID-19 Ag Related Losses Mount, as China Seeks Virus Documentation on Soybeans
Donnelle Eller reported on the front page of Tuesday’s Des Moines Register that, “The Trump administration has sent $4 billion in payments to U.S. farmers to help cover losses due to the…
Cause for Concern? Government Programs Increasingly Important Part of Farm Income
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported last week that, “The American Farm Bureau Federation on Wednesday sent a detailed list of recommendations to Congress to help farmers, stating that…