USDA Takes Steps to Relieve Pandemic Pressure on Farming Community

In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has offered relief to the farming community by suspending a number of debt collection and foreclosure policies for the time being. In a recent article from AgWeb, author Sonja Begemann offers an overview of the USDA’s pandemic-related actions.

The following items have been suspended until further notice:

• Non-judicial foreclosures
• Debt offsets and wage garnishments
• The referral of foreclosures to the Department of Justice (DoJ)

On top of the above-listed suspensions, the USDA has offered deadline extensions to farmers facing the need for loan service actions, including deferrals. Additionally, the farm bureau is striving to put a pause to judicial foreclosures and evictions previously referred to the Department of Justice.

The goal of all of these actions was succinctly stated by Robert Bonnie, deputy chief of staff, Office of the Secretary: “Keep farmers on their farms earning living expenses, providing for emergency needs, and maintaining cash flow.”

For more details, click here to read the article in full at AgWeb.