WASHINGTON – House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Chair Stacey E. Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands issued the following statement after hosting a roundtable with small-scale and organic stakeholders to discuss the impacts of COVID-19:

“There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every facet of our daily lives. This is particularly true for our farmers and ranchers who along with their supply chain partners, are still recovering from dramatic demand disruptions that occurred earlier this year. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, I believe it is critical that Members of the Committee on Agriculture understand how these disruptions particularly impacted small-scale and organic farmers.  Given that these farmers were too often the last to be considered in recovery efforts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is vitally important that we recognize their challenges as we look ahead to the next Congress and to the next farm bill.

“I appreciate the participation of the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Young Farmers Coalition, and Organic Trade Association, and for their willingness to provide insights into how Congress can better support these farmers, who given their direct marketing focus, are helping drive their rural economies.”