Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced more details surrounding the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative. Earlier in March, the agency made $6 billion available for a variety of producers not included in the original aid. Now the Ag Secretary has announced $700 million of that assistance will be going to biofuels producers. American Coalition for Ethanol Board Vice President Troy Knecht says while they’re pleased to get that funding says the industry needs more due to the pandemic’s impacts.

He says the ethanol industry was hit hard by the onset of the pandemic although there’s been some recovery lately, any federal aid is important.

Knecht who farms near Houghton and is General Manager for Redfield Energy says having less people driving during the early stages of COVID 19 created some problems however that has changed and they’re hoping for more recovery.

According to the USDA, implementation of this latest aid is planned to take place within 60 days.