More help is on the way for Iowa’s cash-strapped pork producers.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Thursday that his agency intends to purchase an additional $30 million in pork products this fiscal year for federal food and nutrition assistance programs.

“These purchases will assist pork producers who are currently struggling due to depressed market conditions and reflects the Obama administration’s ongoing work to support struggling producers,” Vilsack said. “This action will help mitigate further downward prices, stabilize market conditions, stipulate the economy, and provide high quality, nutritious food to recipients of USDA’s nutrition programs.”

The move was immediately praised by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

“Today’s announcement comes at a crucial time,” Harkin said.

“[The] USDA’s purchase of pork products will not only help producers, it will also provide additional resources for our nation’s food assistance efforts. Many low-income and jobless families, children and seniors rely on this assistance to have access to quality, nutritious food. I believe we must respond to the need to provide adequate resources for food assistance.”

Harkin said it was his intention to continue to work with Vilsack to help struggling producers and low-income Americans in need of affordable and healthy food.

This year alone the USDA has purchased roughly $151 million in pork products for food and nutrition assistance programs using annual appropriation and stimulus funds.

The products scheduled for this purchase will support the school lunch and breakfast programs, the summer food service program, distribution on Indian reservations, supplemental food programs and The Emergency Food Assistance Program. The USDA also makes emergency food purchases for distribution to victims of disasters.

Suppliers interested in learning more about the purchase details should contact Duane Williams, contracting office in the Livestock and Seed Program at (202) 720-2650. Information is also available on the commodity procurement Web page.