Iowa leaders call on USDA to provide CFAP funds for egg producers

eggs

Iowa leaders want the Department of Agriculture to include egg producers in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, known as CFAP.

Both Senators from Iowa, Republicans Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, Along with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, sent the request in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. With nearly 70 percent of Iowa’s layer flocks producing for the liquid egg market, the COVID-19 market disruption has proved to be devastating to Iowa’s egg producers.

Egg producers lost markets due to the closing of restaurants, schools and other egg buying businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the liquid egg market saw a 68 percent price decline.

Senator Ernst says, “These hardworking folks need relief and assistance, and that’s what we’re fighting for and pushing USDA to provide.” Iowa is home to more than 58 million egg-laying hens and about one in six eggs consumed in the United States each year.