President Donald Trump hosted ranchers and farmers at the White House on Tuesday and discussed the nation's food supply amid the pandemic.
Trump outlined his administration's plans to support farmers, whose supply chain has been greatly disrupted by the novel coronavirus. On Tuesday, Trump said more than $16 billion in direct subsidies would be presented to farmers. He also promised that farmers would receive funds within a week of filling out an application.
During his presentation, Trump also said that farmers should "look into terminating trade deals" that involved foreign countries sending cattle into the United States.
When asked specifically about such deals, Trump said they are unnecessary, saying that America's supply of cattle was more than adequate.
Ivanka Trump, a senior advisor to the president, also discussed the administration's Farmers to Families Food Box Program, which purchases produce, meat and dairy from farmers and provides it directly to local distribution centers and given to those in need.
Because food demand has shifted away from restaurants, school cafeterias, and large commercial contracts amid the pandemic, farmers have been forced to destroy large amounts of fresh produce.
Dairy farmers have been forced to dump thousands of gallons of milk, as storage facilities run out of space. Pig farmers have been forced to euthanize thousands of pigs, as they've grown too large to manufacture into pork products.