Eight farm groups representing the depth and breadth of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry have asked Gov. Tony Evers for $50 million in direct cash relief for farmers in response to coronavirus.

“Never before have we ever experienced the type of crushing economic destruction that this pandemic has brought across our commodity markets. It has devastated our labor force, threatened our supply chains, created panic buying from retailers and consumers and will likely bankrupt many multi-generation farms in Wisconsin,” the groups said in a letter to Evers.

They include Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin Soybean Association, Wisconsin Pork Association, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association and Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a combination of $16 billion in direct payments to U.S. farmers and $3 billion in bulk government purchases of commodities to prop up the collapsed farm economy.

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The direct payments will include $2.9 billion for dairy farmers and $5.1 billion for cattle farmers and ranchers, the agency said. There is also $1.6 billion for pork producers, $3.9 billion for row crop producers, $2.1 billion for specialty crops and $500 million for other crops.

The USDA is purchasing $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat in an effort to stimulate markets.

The eight Wisconsin farm groups acknowledged the federal government’s support but said more was needed from the state.

“We respectfully request that you provide Wisconsin farmers with $50 million in direct cash relief from Wisconsin’s $1.9 billion in initial CARES Act federal aid,” they said in their letter to Evers. “We understand that there may be limits on how the CARES Act funding can be used but we ask that you strive to use a portion of that federal money for our farmers in crisis. We know that this amount will not cover the total loss to the food producers of this state, but it may sustain many farmers through the next few weeks as they regroup and reorganize their businesses and strive to keep the food supply chain intact in Wisconsin.”

Evers' office could not immediately be reached for a response to the groups’ request.

In their letter, the groups projected hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for Wisconsin’s farm economy this year. “Corn will be one of the most impacted crops as its two largest users, livestock feed and ethanol, are under pressure. Impacts of reduced livestock demand are just beginning to come to bear in the market as livestock processing plants are beginning to be disrupted.”

The farm groups added: “Food production cannot start and stop on a dime. The investment is too great. We fear that some of these losses will be permanent.”