Agricultural producers can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic with applications open through August 28, 2020.
Through CFAP, USDA is making available $16 billion for vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.
Upon approval of the application producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment with the remaining portion of the payment, not to exceed the payment limit of $250,000/per person or entity, will be paid at a later date as funds remain available.
Producers can download the CFAP application and other eligibility forms as well as access a payment calculator to help identify sales and inventory records needed to apply and calculate potential payments.
For additional support producers can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance, producers are being asked to call this number with questions before engaging with their local FSA offices.
**USDA is also establishing a process for the public to identify additional commodities for potential inclusion in CFAP. Specifically, USDA is looking for data on agricultural commodities, that are not currently eligible for CFAP, that the public believes to have either:
- suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
- shipped but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channel, or
- not left the farm or remained unharvested as mature crops.
More information on CFAP, to access the applications, and payment calculator go to farmers.gov/cfap.
USDA’s FSA offices are open by appointment only during this time, to set up an appointment call your local FSA office.
