Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the federal government will direct billions of dollars to farmers nationwide and in New York to offset the economic panic caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The move will free up $1.6 billion to farms, along with $3 billion for meat, dairy, fruit and vegetable product purchases. The pandemic has significantly decreased demand for food products as restaurants and schools remain closed to prevent the spread of the virus. The lowered demand has led to farmers dumping milk or vegetables. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is funding the farm support, also plans to send the excess food to food banks around the country. New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “Like most small businesses, New York’s farm families are trying to cope the best they can while they continue to make sure food production doesn’t stop. The USDA announcement is an investment into food security for this country.” Read the full story at NYStateofPolitics [dot] com.