Covid-19 Pandemic Effect on Agriculture & Farmers
"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations."
(Proverbs 27:23-24; NIV)
The United States of America has been a land of plenty. With the arrival of COVID-19, we are finding ourselves in a season where we are not able to get our abundance to market. For example, in Texas and other midwest states, ranchers are having to put cattle down because there is a lower market for the meat. They also don't have enough feed for them. In the hog industry, COVID-19 hit the processing plants and processing had to stop, causing hog farmers to need to euthanize some of their livestock. These types of situations have caused a real snowball effect. For example, now there are gluts of corn across the nation, as there is a lowered need for feed for livestock. This is driving down costs for grain producers. Fresh fruit and vegetable growers just can't get their products to market due to limitations from the virus. Pray that the enemy will not take out our farmers. Intercede for those working in agriculture, food processing, packaging, and distribution. We are also going to pray for creative ideas to keep the supply chain working.
Despite the current challenges, we do not believe the Lord will let our people starve. If we pray, He will turn things around. We believe there will be a renaissance of hope. Though our nation is facing difficulty in the area of agriculture, we believe we have entered into a new era. It is an era of farming innovation and creativity. We are seeing that God is providing prophetic answers, and Josephs are rising up and instituting strategic plans. In one case, we have heard that the church is coming alongside those who currently have no work, but have idle land, and are helping them to purchase livestock and seed resulting in crops to feed local families. Those learning how to do things differently will also go to other communities, states, and nations as entrepreneurs and teach currently impoverished individuals with land to do this in their communities as well.
We have also heard many stories of the Lord drawing us back to some old ways of doing things, which are becoming new again. Some dairy farmers are going back to bottling their own milk and selling it directly from their farms. Some are turning the milk into cheese, which has a longer shelf life.
Chicken farmers were going to have to slaughter their chickens because large institutions, such as restaurant chains and educational facilities, were not going to need them. However, some farmers have gathered together and decided they would go ahead and process the chickens and donate the meat to the food banks. Chicken farms that are focused on providing eggs have put the word out across social media and are selling the eggs directly to the public. Food banks are coming and getting them, as well. By the way, most food banks are run by Christian organizations and churches. Pray for an increased direct connection between the farmers and food banks, churches and other sources of direct distribution to families in need. This is "the Reset"! Decree creative ideas! Decree the church will rise up and reform our food distribution system.
There are two major food distribution efforts we want you to pray about:
BLESSING OF HOPE:
First, in 2018, the Amish started a food distribution program prophetically, as they had a sense it would be needed in the future. It's called "Blessing of Hope" and they now have 3700 volunteers gathering food oversupply, packaging it, and distributing it through local churches and Christian ministries within communities where it is needed. They are only distributing 10% of what is coming in. They are canning the rest and storing it for a time of even greater need. They have purchased the former facilities of K-Marts and other stores that have gone out of business and converted the buildings into storage facilities for these stores of canned goods, grains, etc. They are taking the model they have built in Pennsylvania to other states now or helping to see that it is done in other states.
God is giving the strategies of heaven, both for now, and so that we are ready in the future should we have this happen again. Pray for models like this to be formed across the United States.
FARM TO FAMILIES:
Second, on April 17, 2020, as a part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program, the Farm to Families program was announced. USDA's Agriculture Marketing Services (AMS) is partnering with national, regional, and local suppliers, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels and other foodservice businesses, to purchase and distribute agricultural products to those in need. Suppliers will package fresh produce, dairy and meat products totaling 1.2 billion into family-sized boxes. They will then transport them to food banks, community and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits serving Americans in need from May 15 through June 30, 2020. 1
Remarks by President Trump on the Farm to Families Launch:
On May 19, 2020, President Trump announced dramatic action to support our nation's farmers, ranchers, and growers as we work to safely re-open America: "From day one, my administration has been determined to protect our nation’s incredible farmers. We enacted historic tax cuts and helped family farms stay in the family. We eliminated crushing Washington regulations, kept our promise on ethanol, and ... [gave] you a fair and level playing field. When China unfairly targeted our farmers, we provided $28 billion in direct assistance. And through the Paycheck Protection Program, we have approved billions of dollars in relief to farmers as part of our unprecedented coronavirus relief efforts. [Now,] my administration is launching a new initiative called the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Through this effort, we are providing $19 billion to support our nation’s agricultural producers, maintain the health of our critical food supply chains, and provide food assistance to American families." 2
DECREE WITH US:
"The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none."
(Deuteronomy 28:12; NIV)
"The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you." (Deuteronomy 28:8; NIV)
"May God give you of heaven's dew and earth's richness - an abundance of grain and new wine." (Genesis 27:28; NIV)
"He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows." (Isaiah 30:23; NIV)
"The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." (Psalm 103:6; NIV)
Want to receive prayer alerts like this one straight to your inbox? Sign up here and select Prayer Alerts.
