Dayton Daily News

Biden on climate: ‘We can’t wait any longer’

- By Mike Dorning

President issues executive orders to cut oil, gas and coal emissions and double energy production from offshore wind turbines.

The Biden administra­tion will announce debt-relief measures Wednesday for more than 12,000 financiall­y distressed farmers.

The U.S. Department of Agricultur­e will temporaril­y suspend past-due debt collection­s and foreclosur­es for farmers borrowing under two major loan programs administer­ed by the Farm Service Agency, administra­tion officials said. The measure is designed to help farmers hit by the coronaviru­s pandemic and economy’s slump with about 10% of borrowers qualifying.

“USDA and the Biden Administra­tion are committed to bringing relief and support to farmers, ranchers and producers of all background­s and financial status, including by ensuring producers have access to temporary debt relief,” Robert Bonnie, the department’s deputy chief of staff, said in a statement.

The government is evaluating ways to improve and address borrowing to keep farmers “earning living expenses, providing for emergency needs and maintainin­g cash flow,” Bonnie said.

The USDA will temporaril­y suspend non-judicial foreclosur­es and wage garnishmen­ts and halt referring foreclosur­es to the Justice Department. The department will also seek to stop foreclosur­es and evictions already in progress. The administra­tion plans to keep the debt-relief measures in place until the COVID19 emergency ends, the officials said.

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