By Amy Belcher
(334) 240-7126
Department of Agriculture & Industries

Alabama Agriculture & Industries Commissioner Rick Pate has announced the Livestock Market Direct Payment Program and the Poultry Processor Reimbursement Program.

Applications are available at agi.alabama.gov or crf.alabama.gov through Dec. 1. Each program will assist Alabama agriculture with costs associated with disruptions experienced due to COVID-19. Pate and agricultural stakeholders developed a broad relief plan to support agribusiness.

In August, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that $26 Million of CARES Act Funds could be used to assist Alabama Agriculture impacted by COVID-19. These funds were used to establish the Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program (AASP). The new programs are:

• Livestock Market Direct Payment Program – $500,000 to provide direct payments not to exceed $25,000 to Alabama licensed cattle auction markets.
• Poultry Processor Reimbursement Program – $1.2 million to reimburse Alabama poultry processing facilities for purchases of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), disinfectants, workstation dividers, and COVID-19 testing kits to protect their employees from COVID-19. These expenses would be up to a maximum of $40,000.00 per facility.