Jefferson County Allocates ARPA Funds to Support Small Agricultural Producers

Farming and ranching during the COVID-19 pandemic may have appeared to be “business as usual” with the trusty livestock producer continuing to feed animals and water their crops. However, just below the surface in 2020 was a storm of negative impacts created by the pandemic. Stock market volatility, panic food buying, spiking cases of coronavirus in meat processing centers, and price manipulation by packing plants.

For the first time in many decades, grocery store shelves were empty, and “food security” quickly became a topic of concern across America. Like many counties in Montana,...