Summary of HEROES Act for WG Members

Tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the HEROES Act, or CARES Act 2.0. The Senate will reportedly wait to take up any potential legislative package offering additional COVID-19 relief funds.

While the HEROES Act addresses a wide range of issues spanning 1800 pages of text, the following provisions are relevant to WG members and the agriculture industry:

Agriculture Provisions

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Matthew Allen

USDA Provides Initial CFAP Direct Payment Guidance; CFAP Application Process Not Yet Started

As part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), USDA will provide $16 billion in direct support to agricultural producers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. NOTE: USDA is not yet taking applications.

CFAP will provide direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted. Additionally, CFAP will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19. 

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Cory Lunde

ACE Tickets Available to Farmers and Certain Flood Control Operators

Following a 2015 fatal gas explosion in Bakersfield, California, lawmakers made a one-year Area of Continual Excavation (ACE) ticket accessible to farmers and certain flood control operators. ACE tickets were designed to create a safe and less burdensome option to comply with the “call before you dig” law. This process will be available on July 1,2020.

The year-long ACE ticket can be requested at the farmer or flood control agent’s convenience and is valid for one year from the date of issue. Renewal is required within one year if work continues.

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Gail Delihant

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