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USDA Announces Another Round of CFAP Payments

USDA is implementing a second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.This new round of assistance will offer up to an additional $14 billion.
 
Payment calculations will be made for three categories of commodities: price trigger commodities, flat-rate crops and sales commodities. The new calculations offer at least $15 per acre for crops.There is a payment limit of $250,000 per person or entity for all commodities.The sign-up opens on September 21 and goes through December 11.
 
A CFAP 2 producer webinar is scheduled for September 24 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. Register here. More information on the program is available at farmers.gov/cfap.

CFAP Details Coming This Week

USDA is expected to announce details about the next round of coronavirus relief payments this coming week. During a stop in Iowa, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the rules will be announced before Friday’s deadline for enrolling in the current CFAP program. The second round of CFAP payments will cover COVID-19 related losses from April 15 to the end of the year.
 
Current program information is available here.

CFAP Applications Now Being Accepted Online

The USDA Farm Service Agency is accepting Coronavirus Food Assistance Program applications via an online portal. The agency will also use commercial document storage and e-signature solutions so farmers and ranchers can complete CFAP applications from home. Producers who wish to apply will need an e-Authentication account and can do so at farmers.gov.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Signup Now Open

Signup for the $16 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through USDA is now open. Eligible commodities include several specialty crops and non-speciality crops, as well as livestock. USDA is working to identify commodities not included CFAP to potentially be added. Farmers and ranchers who suffered a five percent or greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April or with unharvested, mature crops are encouraged to submit comments to USDA.

USDA Announces Additional Disaster Assistance

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced additional disaster assistance available to agricultural producers, including producers impacted by drought and excess moisture. Through WHIP+, USDA is helping producers recover from losses related to 2018 and 2019 natural disasters. In addition, producers have reported widespread crop quality loss from eligible disaster events that results in price deductions or penalties when marketing the damaged crops.
 
USDA’s Farm Service Agency will open signup on March 23 for producers to apply for eligible losses of drought (D3 or above) and excess moisture. The full details can be found here.