Letter to Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the Dept. of Agriculture - Boozman and Warner Lead Effort to Urge USDA to Assist Cotton Industry in Wake of Coronavirus

Letter

Dear Secretary Perdue:

We write today concerning the ongoing public health crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19
and its impact on the agricultural industry. We appreciate all the work USDA is doing to ensure
farmers, ranchers, and the entire food and agricultural industry can continue to operate during
this uncertain time. As you know, American agriculture has suffered greatly in recent years, and
the economic strain from the COVID-19 pandemic has presented further challenges for our
producers. While all sectors of the agricultural economy have been impacted by this public
health crisis, the U.S. cotton industry been particularly hard hit during this time.

Since the beginning of 2020, cotton futures prices have declined 30 percent. As retail stores
around the globe have shuttered, orders from U.S. textile mills have dropped as much as 90
percent in the last month. Cotton merchandisers and distributors are also facing additional costs
for storage, interest, and other carrying costs as worldwide demand is significantly depressed.
Cottonseed, a majority of which is used as a feed ration for dairy and beef cattle, is in a tenuous
situation as its main customers -- dairy and beef cattle producers-- are also facing severe
economic losses because of the ongoing public health crisis.

We understand the cotton industry has reached consensus on a package of recommendations to
assist all segments of the industry. We encourage you to work with the industry, so that needed
aid can be delivered in a timely manner. In responding to the current crisis, Congress and the
Administration have acted swiftly to assist the people of our country during this time. We ask
that you use that same approach to ensure that this critical industry represented throughout our
states receives the necessary assistance.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to provide relief, and we look forward to working with you
in this regard.

Sincerely,