Thirteen state poultry associations on Monday sent a thank you letter to Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), co-chairs of the Senate Chicken Caucus, for their leadership in an effort to secure financial assistance to chicken farmers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Our organizations would like to reiterate our thanks to you for your leadership in assisting our farmers as they partner with chicken processors to provide protein during the COVID-19 crisis,” the letter read. “Feeding Americans is a non-partisan issue, and we are proud to work with our nation’s leaders to ensure our food supply is safe, affordable and on the plates of millions of Americans.”
“As you know, many chicken processing facilities across the country have been forced to reduce operations due to the lack of foodservice demand and workforce shortages caused by COVID-19. These challenges faced by chicken processing facilities impact the entire supply chain, including the family farmers in our states who raise chickens. This is beginning to have serious effects on bird placements to family farms, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data on eggs set and chicks placed.”
“As these farmers cope with raising fewer chickens among changing and uncertain demand, we believe it is essential that they be provided with direct financial assistance, just as other farmers and livestock producers have been supported during the pandemic.”
Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, California Poultry Federation, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., Georgia Poultry Federation, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Mississippi Poultry Association, North Carolina Poultry Federation, Ohio Poultry Association, South Carolina Poultry Federation, Tennessee Poultry Federation, Texas Poultry Federation, The Poultry Federation, and Virginia Poultry Federation signed the letter.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
