The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), expanding eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities as well as updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for the program. Farm Bureau was integral in the addition of these commodities and worked closely with Congress to ensure that all farmers who suffered financial losses as a result of COVID-19 qualified for assistance.
Producers who are now eligible and those who need to modify existing applications due to these updates can contact USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26. Some of these changes are being made to align with the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 while others are discretionary changes being made in response to ongoing evaluation of CFAP.
Of particular interest in this round of funding, certain contract poultry growers can now apply. Eligible producers must:
- have raised broilers, pullets, layers, chicken eggs, turkeys, hogs, or pigs under a contract in 2019 and 2020.
- demonstrate a drop in revenue for the period from January 1, 2020, through December 27, 2020, as compared to the period from January 1, 2019, through December 27, 2019.
- provide a copy of their contract and documentation to support the information provided on their application, if requested by FSA.
Payments are based on eligible revenue for January 1, 2020, through December 27, 2020, minus eligible revenue for January 1, 2019, through December 27, 2019, multiplied by up to 80 percent.
Eligible contract growers can now apply for CFAP 2 between January 19 through February 26, 2021 by contacting their local USDA Service Center. One-on-one support with applications is also available by calling 877-508-8364.
For more information and to apply, click here.