As supermarkets around the state emptied during the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers continued to provide for the community.

Bill Reagan is the owner of Reagan Family Farm in Fayetteville.

“The backbone of your society is agriculture,” Reagan said. “It’s the start of a strong local economy.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing 16 billion dollars to large producers who have been impacted by the pandemic through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

“We have paid 86.8 million dollars to producers in Arkansas,” Richard Fordyce FSA Administrator said.

Although U.S. Senator John Boozman believes this won’t be enough. He is in the process of getting another aid package to help these farmers.

“They create the safest, cheapest food supply of any country in the world, we can be really proud of that,” Senator Boozman said. “But it has been a difficult time for them.”

Full story (with video): https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/farmers-carry-on-in-the-midst-of-pandemic/

Original article source: https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/7/knwa-farmers-carry-on-in-the-midst-of-pandemic | Article may or may not reflect the views of KLEK 102.5 FM or The Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council