House Passes Small Business Relief Package, Heads to President The U.S. House of Representatives passed a fourth coronavirus relief package on Thursday afternoon, which will replenish economic assistance programs for small businesses and provide funding to hospitals. Titled the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, this latest relief bill allocates an additional $310 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program, which was originally created through the CARES Act in late March, and $60 billion to Economic Injury Disaster Loans program. Additionally, this relief package expands eligibility for EIDL advances to include agricultural enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. Both programs are designed to provide relief to small businesses affected by COVID-19. PPP gives small businesses needed cash to maintain payroll, utilities, and mortgage payments, while EIDL supports businesses experiencing a temporary loss of revenue during the crisis. Congress hopes this $484 billion bill will provide economic relief to those affected by this pandemic, which has killed more than 42,000 Americans and left over 26 million jobless in the last five weeks. Passed by the Senate on Tuesday, this package now heads to President Donald Trump, who said he will sign it into law quickly.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. EPA extends comment period on draft biological evaluations for carbaryl and methomyl EPA is extending the public comment period for 45 days on the draft biological evaluations (BEs) for the insecticides carbaryl and methomyl. The comment period will now close on July 2, 2020. Comments can be submitted to the docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0090 at www.regulations.gov EPA held a public webinar on April 16, 2020, to present the draft BEs and to answer clarifying questions from the public. EPA is extending the comment period deadline as a result of several stakeholder requests. It is important to EPA to ensure there is adequate time to solicit feedback from all stakeholders. Therefore, the Agency is extending the comment period.  EPA used its revised method for conducting BEs to assess whether registered uses for these pesticides may impact endangered species. EPA announced the revised method and the draft BEs for carbaryl and methomyl in March 2020. The revised method incorporates pesticide usage data into the Agency’s biological evaluation process for the first time. It was informed by input from a wide range of stakeholders including states, tribes, environmental NGOs, and agricultural stakeholders. The Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to determine whether their actions may affect listed species and their designated critical habitat. Biological evaluations are the first step in the interagency consultation process to protect listed species and their habitats. To view the draft biological evaluations for carbaryl and methomyl, view the revised method document, and learn more about how EPA protects endangered species from pesticides, visit https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species. To view the webinar slides, please visit the carbaryl and methomyl BE docket at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0090-0011.

USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Release & Contact Info

Press Release

Release No. 0222.20

Contact: USDA Press
Email: press@oc.usda.gov

(Washington, D.C., April 17, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will take several actions to assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. President Trump directed USDA to craft this $19 billion immediate relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need.
“During this time of national crisis, President Trump and USDA are standing with our farmers, ranchers, and all citizens to make sure they are taken care of,” Secretary Perdue said. “The American food supply chain had to adapt, and it remains safe, secure, and strong, and we all know that starts with America’s farmers and ranchers. This program will not only provide immediate relief for our farmers and ranchers, but it will also allow for the purchase and distribution of our agricultural abundance to help our fellow Americans in need.”

New Mexico Agriculture Secretary encourages those in agriculture industry to complete 2020 Census

New Mexico Agriculture Secretary encourages those in agriculture industry to complete 2020 Census

LAS CRUCES – Although door-to-door operations for the 2020 Census have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still a number of ways you can be accounted for as a New Mexico citizen in the comfort of your own home. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers, ranchers, and everyone within the agriculture industry to respond to the census online, over the phone or by mail.

Upon completion, the census determines how more than $800 billion in federal funds will be distributed in communities across the nation, including $7 billion per year in New Mexico. The funding supports roads, schools, healthcare, public safety and essential service programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and National School Lunch Program. Research suggests that every New Mexico citizen unaccounted for results in a loss of approximately $3,745 every year.

“Every community in the state of New Mexico will be impacted by the data collected in the 2020 Census,” New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said. “Ten minutes impacts the next 10 years. Let’s ensure that every New Mexican is counted. I encourage every farmer, every rancher, and everyone in the agricultural community to do their part in completing a census form.”

For more information about the 2020 Census in New Mexico, visit https://www.icountnm.gov/home/. To respond to the census, visit https://2020census.gov/.

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