Des Moines, IA – State Auditor Rob Sand today (Wednesday) urged Iowa agricultural producers who experienced revenue decreases in 2020 as a result of the pandemic to apply for the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). “PARP addresses gaps in pandemic assistance for farmers by taking into account their overall loss of revenue during the first year of the pandemic,” said Sand. “Previous assistance programs targeted specific commodities and loss of access to markets.”

PARP provides financial assistance to producers who experienced a 15% reduction in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to 2018 or 2019. Producers who received assistance previously from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for pandemic-related losses may be eligible for additional assistance through PARP.

“Iowa farmers feed the world and boost our state’s economy by tens of billions of dollars annually,” said Sand. “Their financial well-being is critical to Iowa’s long-term economic health.”

Producers eligible for PARP must have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $900,000 for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018, and have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year. Additional eligibility requirements apply.

Eligible producers may seek additional assistance on the application process by working with the Farm Service Agency office at their local USDA Center. The application deadline is June 2, 2023.