On July 28, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) — a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee — introduced legislation to create a loan program to provide relief to dairy processors who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, said the Washington, D.C.-based International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). Sen. Smith said the USDA-backed loan program would allow dairy processors, packagers, merchants, marketers, wholesalers and distributors to secure credit against their inventory, ensuring dairy processors have the working capital needed to make it through the pandemic.

“For years, the dairy industry in Minnesota and across the country has been reeling from low prices, trade disruptions and weather disasters. Now, to add insult to injury, the coronavirus pandemic has caused much of the dairy market to dry up," said Sen. Smith. “My legislation will help the dairy industry access the capital it needs to stay afloat during this uncertain time. I plan to keep pushing for relief for Minnesota agriculture.”