USDA official to talk COVID-19 aid at Columbia food bank

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Greg Ibach is set to speak at Columbia's Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri Friday morning.

The Food Bank itself is a USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program distributor.

The main topic of Friday's meeting will be centered around the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Also speaking at the visit will be Congresswoman Vicki Hartzler as well as USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce.

The Food Assistance Program is aimed at assisting farmers who have faced price declines as well as other marketing costs due to COVID-19.

Some of the commodities that are eligible for this program include non-specialty crops, wool, livestock, eggs, and dairy, among others.

The USDA Farmers to Families program, a part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, sends farmers agricultural products to those in need.

The Farmers to Families have sent out over 65 million food boxes since mid-May.

The deadline to apply for assistance has been extended from Aug. 20 to Sept. 11 of this year.

Those looking to apply can do so online or fill out the forms manually and return them to a local USDA Service Center.