USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Closing Soon!
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There is not a lot of time before the gate closes for farmers and ranchers seeking USDA Food Assistance in the context of the Coronavirus epidemic and so we have decided to restate USDA provisions to maximize transmission.
The first phase of this USDA program ended on September 11 2020, but a second phase (CFAP 2) allows applications to be sent in through December 11, 2020. This assistance focuses on agricultural producers who continue to face market disruption and the costs of these disruptions. CFAP 2 will provide producers with financial assistance that gives them the ability to absorb some of the increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
To check complete list of commodities eligible for assistance, the USDA recommends using its CFAP 2 Eligible Commodities Finder to find payment rates for the commodities farmers are cultivating. Most common eligible crops include row crops, wool, livestock (and specialty livestock), floriculture or horticulture and nursery crops, aquaculture, eggs and broilers, as well as tobacco.
To look up payment limitations, ineligible commodities, funding authorities, see https://www.farmers.gov/cfap
To find the dashboard that tracks and updates CFAP 2 payments and applications by state see https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/data.
For other CFAP 2 resources such as webinars and videos, FAQs, Fact sheets, Tools for stakeholders and Rule and Cost-benefit analysis, see https://www.farmers.gov/cfap
For information on how to apply for this second USDA Food assistance program, whether online or manually, see https://www.farmers.gov/cfap We note that online applications cannot be created for corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts, or estates via the CFAP 2 Application Portal. According to the website, CFAP 2 applications for these business types should be initiated by contacting your local USDA Service Center or the call center at 877-508-8364.
The CFAP 2 Application Portal can only be accessed by individuals with USDA eAuthentication access. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should visit farmers.gov/sign-in to get instructions.
Assistance on costs will be commensurate with producers’ sales, inventories and other records. However, since CFAP 2 is a self-certification program, this documentation will not need to be submitted with the application. Because applications are subject to County Committee review and spot checking, certain producers will be asked to provide documentation. Producers should therefore keep their records and documentation they used to complete the application.
Assistance with Application
USDA Service Centers are open despite the Coronavirus, but most offices are open by phone appointment and using email and online tools to make the CFAP applications. Producers can check the status of their local USDA Service Center at farmers.gov/coronavirus/service-center-status. A national call center has also been made available for producers who need extra support with the application process. The phone number is 877-508-8364 and there are language options (1 for English or to signal a language need that is neither English nor Spanish which is option 2.)
In addition to the above information on CFAP 2, USDA has other programs for farmers who are being impacted by the Coronavirus. See farmers.gov/coronavirus.