Today’s updates include updates on federal and local loans and grants, changes at the state animal disease diagnostic lab, and an economic update for cow-calf operations.
I also discovered yesterday that my emails have not been getting to everyone. I’ve solved the issue going forward, but can’t figure out who has/hasn’t received them in the last week. I have sent updates every day except for Saturday and Sunday for the last two weeks. If you didn’t receive updates on specific days and want me to share that information with you, please let me know which days you did not get an email from me.
- Paycheck Protection Program update: Wells Fargo is now an approved lender
- You may have heard that Wells Fargo Bank was not an approved lender with the PPP program. As of late yesterday, Wells Fargo is now officially an approved lender for PPP.
- If you want to read about why wells Fargo was not initially an approved lender and why they are now, this article explains it: https://www.inc.com/diana-ransom/wells-fargo-paycheck-protection-program-lending-cap-federal-reserve.html
- Here is a link for more information about PPP and how to apply: http://floridasbdc.org/disaster/cares/sba-ppp/
- Updates to USDA Rural Development actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America. This is the link to read about the updates: https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_RD_SA_COVID19_ProgramImmediateActions04082020.pdf
- Sarasota County small business emergency loan program:
- April 8, the Sarasota County Commission approved a new emergency loan program for small businesses funded through an existing $4.3 million economic fund at the county. They directed the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation to roll out the details of the program and application process with a goal of providing relief to local businesses as they await funding from the larger federal programs. The application for this loan will be made available within the next 2 weeks and we will alert you as soon as it is ready. Here is general information about the program: https://marketing.visitsarasota.org/acton/rif/42089/s-0016-2004/-/l-0005:e53/q-000d/showPreparedMessage?sid=TV2:9UusnBR1v
- Here’s a Herald-Tribune article from last night: https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20200408/coronavirus-florida-sarasota-county-to-tap-economic-development-fund-for-business-loans
- Note: Applications are not available yet and loans will be very competitive.
- Beef Cattle Industry assessment submitted to USDA:
- Chris Prevatt, UF’s State Specialized Extension Agent in Cattle Economics has written a paper along with specialists from two other universities that has been submitted to the USDA as an assessment of the damages to Feeder Cattle that have been caused by COVID-19. This assessment will be used by USDA to help provide relief to farmers and ranchers through FSA. This relief will come from the $9.5 Billion that was allocated to Livestock Producers, Speciality Crops, Farmers Markets, etc.) through the Stimulus Package. Note, that only a portion will be used for the U.S. Beef Cattle Industry. Currently, it is not expected to be able to cover all losses. But, every dollar helps our producers during this difficult time period. To read the assessment, see attachment.
- Chris is also doing a talk (webinar) on Tuesday, April 14th called “Searching for the Bottom of the U.S. Cattle Price Cycle.”. Here’s the link to register for Chris’s free talk: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/188184017547708171
- Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL) has reduced staffing at the laboratory:
- The laboratory will continue to receive and process limited samples.
- They are prioritizing testing for: Foreign Animal Diseases (FADs), National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) diseases, and Florida reportable and Zoonotic diseases; samples from clinically ill, live animals submitted by veterinarians (swabs, exudate, urine and biopsies); and forensic cases from governmental sources such as county animal services, police departments, or sheriff’s offices.
- Please see attachment called “Animal Diagnostic Lab Updates” for more information and instructions on how to drop samples off at the lab.
That’s all for today. I hope that you are all doing well enough. Keep letting me know what you need.
ATTACHMENTS
- April09_An Assessment of the Economic Damages caused by COVID-19 on Feeder Cattl
- April09_Animal Diagnostic Lab Updates.docx
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