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MN U.S. Senator Tina Smith seeks COVID aid for turkey, biofuels, and processing sectors

A U.S. Senator from Minnesota is seeking direct aid for the turkey, biofuels, and processing sectors in the next coronavirus assistance package.

Tina Smith is a Democrat and member of the Senate Ag Committee.

“I’ve been working with the Minnesota turkey producers to make sure that independent turkey producers can be a part of the USDA aid. That hasn’t happened.”

The first-term Senator is running for re-election in November and participated in a Minnesota Farmfest virtual candidate forum with Republican opponent Jason Lewis Tuesday.

Smith highlighted bipartisan efforts to provide support for ethanol.

“It’s just had such a struggle, partly because of these secret refinery waivers that the Trump EPA has put forward.”

Smith says she has also put forward coronavirus food assistance program legislation that would help independent livestock processors.