American Farm Bureau Federation and Feeding America are proposing additional steps to be sure food banks across America are stocked.

As the COVID-19 emergency spreads and people are losing their jobs, demand is surging at food banks, with some reporting 100% increases in demand. In some states, the National Guard is helping distribute packaged goods to customers. At the same time, milk is being dumped and other ag products left to rot in the field.

"We are writing you to ask USDA to expand on your partnership with us in executing the solution," the AFBF and Feeding America wrote in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. "The department has the opportunity to help address both unfortunate consequences described above through a voucher program that would deepen the relationships between farmers and food banks, allowing them to work directly with one another instead of relying upon third parties and what is sometimes a longer pathway to get food from farms to food bank shelves."

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