The United States Department of Agriculture is preparing to soon announce subsidies of $15.5 billion to help the food industry cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initial plan will include direct payments to farmers and ranchers, along with other support measures, using a portion of the $23.5 billion approved by Congress to support agriculture in a coronavirus stimulus bill last month, along with some existing U.S.D.A. funds, Reuters news agency said it has learned.
I don't see anything for subsidies for consumers, even though the "food stamp" program is the largest single item in the U.S.D.A.'s annual budget.
