Help for Farmers, Agriculture Businesses and Employees

This page will be updated continuously to reflect the most recent information. This page was last updated on May 20, 2021. 

*** WHAT IS NEW IN THE?AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN?*** 
The?American Rescue Plan?provides $4 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional relief for to purchase and distribute agricultural commodities, improve food and agriculture supply chain resiliency.  

Support for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
The American Rescue Plan includes $1.1 billion to provide technical assistance on agricultural issues to eligible producers, as well as providing grants and loans to improve land access, including issues related to heirs’ property. The law also includes roughly $4 billion for loan modifications and debt relief for socially disadvantaged farmers of up to 120 percent of outstanding indebtedness on USDA direct farm loans or guaranteed farm loans. 

Emergency Grants for Rural Health Care
The emergency grant program will provide $500 million for USDA’s Community Facility Program to help rural hospitals and local communities increase access to COVID-19 vaccines and food assistance. 

Assistance to Agricultural Producers from Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
The December 2020 Covid relief law provided USDA with an additional $13 billion in funding to support farmers, ranchers and processors impacted by the coronavirus. This includes supplemental payments to row crop and specialty crop producers, as well as additional authorities to assist livestock and dairy producers. For more information please?click here.

Assistance to Agricultural Producers from the Small Business Administration (SBA) 
Under the December 2020 COVID relief law, Congress included ?an additional $284 billion for a the?Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) along with several provisions supporting farmers and other agricultural producers.. For more information on SBA assistance under the COVID relief law, please?click here?and check the SBA’s?website?for updates.

Unemployment Insurance
Besides direct assistance to farmers and agricultural businesses, the COVID relief law extended the eligibility for unemployment benefits and increased the amounts people can receive. This includes independent contractors, part-time workers and others not normally eligible for unemployment benefits. If your job has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can apply for unemployment benefits in Illinois?here.