America’s cattle producers have been facing tough economic times due to recent low prices, some of it brought on by the COVID 19 pandemic. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Policy Division Chairman Todd Wilkinson who ranches in South Dakota says the coronavirus has hammered a lot of cow calf producers caught in the market price drop.

He says he’ll be talking with USDA officials about the recent economic rescue legislation passed by Congress to make sure there’s enough funding in the bill to help cattle producers.

Wilkinson says his group wants the government to ensure that the producers are funded and not the packers from this latest legislation.

The Economic Rescue package passed by Congress and signed by the President includes $9.5 billion for the livestock industry.