USDA is providing critical support to the nation’s farmers and ranchers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities with financial assistance that gives them the ability to absorb sales declines and increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Farm Service Agency is accepting applications for CFAP through August 28.
To ensure the availability of funding throughout the application period, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment, up to the payment limit, upon approval of the application. The remaining portion will be paid at a later date as funds remain available.
FSA staff at the local USDA Service Center will work with producers to file applications. Applications may be submitted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or via electronic means. Call the office at 977-2698 prior to sending applications electronically. The CFAP application and associated forms are available online at farmers.gov/cfap.
DAIRY: CFAP payments for dairy are based on milk production during the first quarter of 2020 – January, February, and March.
LIVESTOCK: CFAP assistance is available to livestock producers who have an ownership interest in eligible livestock that have suffered a 5 percent-or-greater price decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and face additional significant costs in marketing their inventories due to unexpected surplus and disrupted markets. A contract grower who does not own livestock is eligible if the contract allows the grower to have price risk in the livestock.
Eligible Livestock
Hogs
Pigs (< 120 lbs.)
Hogs (> 120 lbs.)
Cattle
Feeder Cattle (< 600 lb. calves)
Feeder Cattle (> 600 lb. calves)
Slaughter Cattle: Fed Cattle/Fat Cattle raised for slaughter (1200 – 1600 lb. range)
Slaughter Cattle: Mature Cattle (culled cows and culled breeding bulls)
All Other Cattle (not including livestock used, or intended for, dairy production). This would include beef replacement heifers, beef brood cows, and mature breeding bulls.
Sheep
Lambs and yearlings (less than 2 years of age)
Livestock producers must provide the following information for CFAP:
Total sales of eligible livestock, by species and class, between January 15, 2020, to April 15, 2020, of owned inventory as of January 15, 2020, including any offspring from that inventory, and
Highest inventory of eligible livestock, by species and class, between April 16, 2020, and May 14, 2020.
COMMODITIES: There are also non-specialty crops eligible for CFAP payments.
Eligible Commodities
The following non-specialty crops are eligible for CFAP payments: malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red spring wheat. Crops intended for grazing are not eligible.
Producers will be paid based on inventory subject to price risk held as of January 15, 2020. A single payment will be made based on 50 percent of a producer’s 2019 total production or the 2019 inventory as of January 15, 2020, whichever is smaller, multiplied by 50 percent and then multiplied by the commodity’s applicable payment rates.
To apply, a commodity producer must provide the following:
Total 2019 production for the commodity
Total 2019 production that was not sold or fed as of January 15, 2020
WOOL AND SPECIALITY CROPS: Wool producers and producers of specialty crops (fruits and vegetables) are asked to contact the county office regarding eligibility and information needed for a CFAP application.
For more information about the CFAP program, visit farmers.gov/cfap or contact your local FSA office. Additionally, producers in search of one-on-one support with the CFAP application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.
USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call the Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
