USDA holding listening session on impacts of COVID-19 on new farmers

From U.S. Department of Agriculture

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday a virtual listening session for beginning farmers and ranchers to learn how COVID-19 impacted their farming operations and to get their feedback on USDA assistance.

The listening session will take place Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

“We invite beginning farmers and ranchers to share their experiences in navigating USDA’s resources for assistance after the pandemic,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Gloria Montaño Greene said.

“We need to understand what worked well and where we can improve, while deepening our understanding of how farmers were affected by the pandemic and how they are modifying their operations,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Mae Wu said.

Montaño Greene and Wu will be joined by USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux and USDA National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator Sarah Campbell.

The feedback is sought to inform USDA preparations for outreach strategies, programmatic needs, technical assistance and accessible program delivery for beginning farmers and ranchers through Pandemic Assistance for Producers.

To register and attend, people can visit http://farmers.gov/newfarmers . Registrants have the optional opportunity to provide written feedback.